This picture shows a semiconductor nanowire grown in Eindhoven that we contacted with gold leads. Because all of our measurements are “transport”, i.e. sending a current through a nanostructure, these contacts are absolutely necessary for us to go forward.
To make this sample, we spread nanowires on the surface of a silicon chip, then took pictures of them using an electron microscope. Based on the pictures we designed gold contacts are wrote them over the wire using electron beam lithography. The device in the picture was the first where we managed to send a current through a nanowire. A small step for mankind, a great step for a new lab.