Size effects on the charge-density-wave pinning in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor K0.30MoO3

We report size effects on the charge-density-wave pinning in the quasi-one-dimensional conductor K0.30MoO3 in the temperature range 77 K-160 K. The threshold field is approximately one order of magnitude larger in needle-like samples than in bulk crystals, temperature independent and strongly dependent on the width of the sample. In addition, the nonlinear conductivity shows a maximum near 130 K. The results are discussed in relation with various pinning models and CDW dislocations.