The presence of free spins in granular Al films is directly demonstrated by $mu$SR measurements. A Mott transition is observed by probing the increase of the spin-flip scattering rate of conduction electrons as the nano-size metallic grains are being
progressively decoupled. Analysis of the magneto-resistance in terms of an effective Fermi energy shows that it becomes of the order of the grains electrostatic charging energy at a room temperature resistivity $rho approx 50,000~muOmega~cm$, at which a metal to insulator transition is known to exist. As this transition is approached the magneto-resistance exhibits a Heavy-Fermion like behavior, consistent with an increased electron effective mass.
We show that the normal state transport properties of nano-scale granular Aluminum films, near the metal to insulator transition, present striking similarities with those of Kondo systems. Those include a negative magneto-resistance, a minimum of res
istance R at a temperature Tm in metallic films, a logarithmic rise at low temperatures and a negative curvature of R(T) at high temperatures. These normal state properties are interpreted in terms of spin-flip scattering of conduction electrons by local magnetic moments, possibly located at the metal/oxide interfaces. Their co-existence with the enhanced superconductivity seen in these films is discussed.
