ABSTRACT
Films comprising metallic grains embedded in insulating matrices represent an important class of electronic materials. Conventional granular lms prepared by thermal evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, electroless deposition, etc. have been extensively studied (Abeles et al. 1975). ey are typically disordered and exhibit electronic properties that vary both widely and controllably, depending on the architecture and composition of their components. ree distinct regimes have been typically observed (Abeles et al. 1975):
1. A thin fi lm regime, where the volume fraction of grains is small and the grains form isolated islands.
