Study of the effect of semi-infinite crystalline electrodes on transmission of gold atomic wires using DFT

First principle calculations of the conductance of gold wires containing 3-8 atoms each with 2.39 {\AA} bond length were performed using density functional theory. Three different configuration of wire/electrodes were used. For zigzag wire with semi-infinite crystalline electrodes, even-odd oscillation is observed which is consistent with the previously reported results. A lower conductance was observed for the chain in semi-infinite crystalline electrodes compared to the chains suspended in wire-like electrode. The calculated transmission spectrum for the straight and zig-zag wires suspended between semi-infinite crystalline electrodes showed suppression of transmission channels due to electron scattering occurring at the electrode-wire interface.