Current at the Nanoscale An Introduction to Nanoelectronics

This second edition of the book, initially written as an introductory text dealing with how electric currents behave at the nanometer scale, begins with a general description of electric currents at the macroscale. Then by considering the physical lengthscales relevant to electron flow, it is observed how the behavior of currents varies as they approach the nanoscale. A quantum description of electric current is covered as well as its relevance, with particular reference to defects, grain boundaries, tunnelling and atomic contacts, followed by the effects of current flow through nanostructures, including electromigration, of particular relevance for transistor miniaturization. Next, the techniques used to probe currents and voltages at the nanoscale are considered, focusing on scanning-probe microscopy and transport measurements, before considering electronic transport through molecular and single-electron devices. The book will tie together several aspects of current and recent research on the current flow at the nanoscale. Due to the introductory nature of the book, it will not become obsolete quickly, and chapters can be added at will at later stages as new developments arise.