Year: 2003
Type: article
Abstract: Pristine arc-produced multi-walled carbon nanotubes are contacted to liquid mercury in situ in a transmission electron microscope. The conductance G ( V ) for all tubes increases with increasing bias voltage V . This is related to the electronic density of the nanotubes. Similar G ( V ) behaviour is observed for HOPG-graphite contacted in air with Hg, with d G ( V )/d V ∼0.3 G 0 . Variations observed in the conductance are related to nanotube–Hg contact effects. For tubes barely touching the Hg surface, the conductance is low (typically G ( V =0)∼0.1–0.5 G 0 ); G ( V ) may maximize around V =1.5–2 V or continue to increase linearly depending on the MWNT–Hg contact. For good contacts the maximum low-bias conductance is 1 G 0 . Non-conducting tubes are observed having a low-bias conductance smaller than 10 −3 G 0 . High-voltage tube failure usually occurs at the contact with Hg for clean tubes, or at tube defects. An important phenomenon is the formation of a Hg bubble near the contact nanotube–Hg surface when the nanotube is negatively biased, under high bias current conditions, indicating the heating effect of hot electrons injected into the mercury.
Source: New Journal of Physics
Authors: C Berger, Y Yi, J Gezo, P Poncharal, W A de Heer
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,610
OpenAlex ID: W2032276321