This invention provides a method for constructing bridge including fine wires or point contacts producing a quanitized inter-electrode conductance, and provides a method for easily controlling the conductance of this bridge. Further, it aims to provide an electronic element using conductance control due to the bridge, fine wire or point contact formed between the electrodes.
This invention is an electronic element comprising a first electrode comprising a mixed electroconducting material having ion conductance and electron conductance, and a second electrode comprising an electroconducting substance, wherein the inter-electric conductance can be controlled. This mixed electroconducting material is preferably Ag 2 S, Ag 2 Se, Cu 2 S or Cu 2 Se.
This invention is an electronic element formed by a bridge between electrodes, by applying a voltage between the electrodes so that the second electrode is negative with respect to the first electrode and movable ions migrate from the first electrode to the second electrode.
Further, this invention is a method of controlling inter-electrode conductance comprising at least one of applying a voltage between the electrodes of the above electronic element so that the second electrode is negative with respect to the first electrode so that a bridge is formed between the electrodes due to the migration of movable ions from the first electrode to the second electrode, and reversing the inter-electrode polarity so that the bridge is thinned or disconnected.
In particular, this invention is characterized in that the conductance between the electrodes is quantized.