Work

Electrical Properties of Single Carbon Nanofibers Grown on Tips of Scanning Probe Microscope Cantilevers by Ion Irradiation

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: The Ar ion irradiation method has a high potential for the batch fabrication of single carbon nanofibers (CNFs) onto the tip of cantilevers, and is known to have excellent mechanical characteristics. In this study, we analyzed the electrical properties of ion-induced CNFs. For this purpose, current–voltage ( I – V ) properties were measured using an atomic force microscope (AFM). Commercial-type Si probes (without CNFs) showed a typical diode characteristic. By contrast, Si probes with ion-induced CNFs (CNF probes) showed a metallic characteristic similar to that of Pt-coated Si probes. The Pt-coated Si probes were completely damaged at an applied voltage of 5 V, whereas the CNF probes retained their metallic I – V characteristic and no increase in resistance was detected even at 10 V. Electrical properties were further investigated by scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM) measurements. Compared with electroconductive diamond probes, which are commonly used for SSRM measurements, CNF probes were superior in the sensitivity for measuring surface roughness owing to both the small radial curvature of the tip and a high aspect ratio. Thus, it was believed that the CNF probes are quite promising as electroconductive probes.

Source: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

DOI: 10.1143/jjap.46.5607

Authors: Masashi Kitazawa, Ryo Ohta, Junya Tanaka, Masaki Tanemura

Institutions: Nagoya Institute of Technology, Olympus (Japan)

Language: English

Topic: Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan Science and Technology Agency

Award: Development of self-regenerative flexible displays with a long lifetime