Room-temperature and 50 GHz operation of a functional nanomaterial

We demonstrate an artificial electronic nanomaterial, constructed by arrangement of nanometer-sized symmetry-breaking elements into a two-dimensional lattice. The material exhibits intrinsic nonlinear electronic functionality, and therefore functions also as a two-dimensional ratchet. We show that individual devices can be made by simply cutting pieces from the material. We also demonstrate that these devices operate at temperatures up to room temperature and at frequencies at least up to 50 GHz. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.