Size limit of defect formation in pyramidal Pt nanocontacts.

We report high resolution transmission electron microscopy and ab initio calculation results for defect formation in sharp pyramidal Pt nanocontacts. Our results show that there is a size limit to the existence of twins (extended structural defects). These defects are always present but blocked away from the tip axes. They may act as scattering planes, influencing the electron conductance for Pt nanocontacts at room temperature and Ag/Au nanocontacts at low temperature (<150 K).