IUVSTA 15th International Vacuum Congress (IVC-15), AVS 48th International Symposium (AVS-48), 11th International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-11)
    Nanotubes: Science and Applications Topical Conference Wednesday Sessions
       Session NT-WeM

Paper NT-WeM9
Contacting Carbon Nanotubes by Electrodeposition of Metal

Wednesday, October 31, 2001, 11:00 am, Room 133

Session: Nanotubes: Nanoelectronics
Presenter: D.W. Austin, University of Tennessee
Authors: D.W. Austin, University of Tennessee
M.A. Guillorn, University of Tennessee
D.B. Geohegan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A.A. Puretzky, University of Tennessee
P.F. Britt, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
M.L. Simpson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
We report our progress on the development of controllably contacting carbon nanotubes as part of our efforts to develop molecular-scale electronic devices. We are applying two approaches for electrically contacting single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that span metal electrodes. In the first approach, electrode metal is evaporated over the nanotubes, at the risk of damaging the tubes with the patterning electron beam. The second approach is to deposit the SWNTs onto prefabricated electrodes and then locate nanotubes that bridge two or more contacts. In the latter method, the nanotube/electrode resistance is typically on the order of 1 M@ohm@, due to the high contact resistance between the electrode and the sidewall of the nanotubes. We have had success in depositing SWNTs across prefabricated electrodes and making charge transport measurements. Our next step is to establish a contact method that will improve the conductivity across the nanotube/metal junction, and lead to the development of SWNT-based devices. We are conducting a set of experiments to determine if nanotubes can be contacted by electroplating metals such as gold, palladium, and platinum onto existing electrodes. In this approach, the electrodeposition of metal takes place long enough to allow the electrodes to contact the ends of the SWNTs. We will report the results of our electrodeposition experiments and describe our ongoing efforts towards the development of carbon nanotube-based molecular electronic devices.