Single-electron devices can be built using a metal nanoparticle as an island between two electrodes: one electron at a time is passing the nanoparticle “island” between the electrodes = the island behaves as a Coulomb blockage. When a Pb nanoparticle is used in a device, each Coulomb staircase step is measured to be 0.52 eV (the radius of Pb particle is 4.2 nm). a) Calculate what is the maximum temperature (in K) where the Coulomb blockage phenomenon can be observed for a such a Pb nanoparticle single-electron device (hint: thermal energy kBT)?
b) What is the maximum temperature where the Coulomb blockage phenomenon can be observed for a bulk Pb electrode with 1.0 cm2 surface area (capacitance of bulk lead is 16.1 μF/cm2)?