AVS 47th International Symposium
    Nanotubes - Science and Applications Monday Sessions
       Session NM+NS-MoA

Paper NM+NS-MoA6
Effect of Commensurate Contact on the Resistance Across the CNT/HOPG Interface

Monday, October 2, 2000, 3:40 pm, Room 309

Session: Carbon Nanotubes: Nanoelectronics and Field Emission
Presenter: S. Paulson, The University of North Carolina
Authors: S. Paulson, The University of North Carolina
M.R. Falvo, The University of North Carolina
A. Seeger, The University of North Carolina
R.M. Taylor II, The University of North Carolina
S. Washburn, The University of North Carolina
R. Superfine, The University of North Carolina
Correspondent: Click to Email
We report measurements of the effect of atomic interlocking on the mechanical behavior and electrical conduction between bodies. We have manipulated carbon nanotubes on an HOPG substrate with a conducting AFM tip as an electrical probe. Along with our lateral force evidence of commensurate contact, we present the first data measuring the change in contact resistance between two atomically smooth surfaces as they go between the commensurate and incommensurate states. The conducting AFM tip contacts the CNT from the top and current is collected in the HOPG substrate, therefor our measurement of resistance is across the CNT diameter as opposed to its length. We find very low resistance for this circumferential current as compared to longitudinal currents that have been reported. Our results will be interpreted in light of models of coupling between the tip and the various electrical modes in the CNT. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (HPCC, ECS), the Office of Naval Research (MURI), and National Institutes of Health (NCRR).