Novel High Current-Carrying Quasi-1D Material: Nb₂ PdS₆

A quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals metallic nanowire Nb₂ PdS₆ is synthesized, and its electrical characteristics are analyzed. The chemical vapor transport method is applied to produce centimeter-scale Nb₂ PdS₆ crystals with needle-like structures and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms their high crystallinity. Scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals the crystal orientation and atomic arrangement of the specific region with atomic resolution. The electrical properties are examined by delaminating bulk Nb₂ PdS₆ crystals into a few nanometer-scale wires onto 100 nm-SiO₂ /Si substrates using a mechanical exfoliation process. Ohmic behavior is confirmed at the low-field measurements regardless of their thickness variation, and 4.64 nm-thick Nb₂ PdS₆ shows a breakdown current density (J_BD ) of 52 MA cm^-2 when the high electrical field is delivered. Moreover, with further exfoliation down to a single atomic chain, the J_BD of Nb₂ PdS₆ is predicted to have a value of 527 MA cm^-2 . The breakdown of Nb₂ PdS₆ proceeds due to the Joule heating mechanism, and the Nb₂ PdS₆ nanowires are well fitted to the 1D thermal dissipating model.