Conduction in Nano-Engineered Thin Films at Cryogenic Temperatures
By Andrew Jones
Advisor: Dr. Tariq Gilani
The conduction mechanism in sculptured thin films is currently an interesting
field of study for physicists. With a cold cup made on site we used the linear 4-point
probe method to measure the resistance (and therefore the conductivity) of sculptured
thin films at temperatures ranging from 6 – 200 K. We tested both chromium and gold
thin films. Both showed the expected linear temperature dependence between room
temperature and about 50 K. Below 50K, all samples, including a brass foil, showed an
anomalous peak, followed by a non-linear temperature dependence.
Gold Films Resistance Vs. Temperature
0.35
0.33
0.31
Resistance (Ohm)
0.29
0.27
(-) sample
(+) sample
original (+) sample
bump
0.25
0.23
0.21
0.19
0.17
0.15
0
50
100
150
Temperature (K)
200
250