AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Thursday Sessions
       Session NS-ThP

Paper NS-ThP9
Effects of Deforming of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) on Electrical Conductivities

Thursday, November 16, 2006, 5:30 pm, Room 3rd Floor Lobby

Session: Nanoscale Science and Technology Poster Session
Presenter: Z. Xiao, Alabama A&M University
Authors: Z. Xiao, Alabama A&M University
M. Saafi, Alabama A&M University
W. Li, GE Global Research Center
Correspondent: Click to Email
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) method was used to deposit, align, and assemble carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to bridge cross a pair of electrodes. Highly-purified HiPCO-grown single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc. (CNI) were used for the investigation. The Single-walled carbon nanotubes were ultrasonically dispersed in toluene, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and DI water. The CNT-containing solution was then dropped onto a pair of electrodes, which were patterned on a polyimide thin film coated on the oxidized silicon substrate, and an ac voltage was applied to the electrodes for generating an inhomogeneous electric field to attract CNTs onto the electrodes. Photolithography and e-beam lithography and lift-off techniques were used to fabricate the pair of electrodes, which are opposite to each other and has a gap of 1 µm or 3 µm. Each electrode is 50 µm long and 1 µm or 3 µm wide. The flexible polyimide thin film was coated on the substrate with a spin coater using PI 2525 from HD Microsystems, and had a thickness of about 10 µm. The polyimide film, together with the fabricated device on it, was finally stripped off from the substrate for the measurement of electrical conductivities versus the bending of polyimide thin films, which resulted in the deforming of CNTs. The current-voltage characteristics of CNTs depend on the form of CNTs [Z. Yao, et al, "Carbon nanotube intramolecular junctions", Nature 402, 273-276 (1999)]. The fabricated CNT Devices and the effects of deforming of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the electrical conductivities will be reported in the conference.