Electron field emission characteristics of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been investigated by a piezoelectric nanomanipulation system operating inside a scanning electron microscopy chamber. The experimental setup ensures a high control capability on the geometric parameters of the field emission system (CNT length, diameter and anode-cathode distance). For several multiwalled carbon nanotubes, reproducible and quite stable emission current behaviour has been obtained with a dependence on the applied voltage well described by a series resistance modified Fowler-Nordheim model. A turn-on field of about 30 V/um and a field enhancement factor of around 100 at a cathode-anode distance of the order of 1 um have been evaluated. Finally, the effect of selective electron beam irradiation on the nanotube field emission capabilities has been extensively investigated.
We develop a new chemical route to prepare carbon nanotubes at room temperature. Graphite powder is immersed in a mixed solution of nitric and sulfuric acid with potassium chlorate. After heating the solution up to 70°C and leaving them in the air for 3 days, we obtained carbon nanotube bundles. This process could provide an easy and inexpensive method for the preparation of carbon nanotubes.
We report on the nano-electron beam assisted fabrication of atomically sharp iron-based tips and on the creation of a nano-soldering iron for nano-interconnects using Fe-filled multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). High energy electron beam machining has been proven a powerful tool to modify desired nanostructures for technological applications and to form molecular junctions and interconnections between carbon nanotubes. Recent studies showed the high degree of complexity in the creation of direct interconnections between multiwalled and CNTs having dissimilar diameters. Our technique allows…
Using the first-principles spin density functional approach, we have studied magnetism of a new type of all-carbon nanomaterials, i.e., the carbon nanowires inserted into the single-walled carbon nanotubes. It is found that if the 1D carbon nanowire density is not too higher, the ferromagnetic ground state will be more stable than the antiferromagnetic one, which is caused by weak coupling between the 1D carbon nanowire and the single-walled carbon nanotube. Also, both dimerization of the carbon nanowire and carbon vacancy on the tube-wall are found to enhance the magnetic moment of the compos…
We show that the presence of electrically insulating graphite oxide (GO) within a single wall carbon nanotube network strongly enhances electrical conductivity, whereas reduced graphite oxide, even though electrically conductive, suppresses electrical conductivity within a composite network with single wall carbon nanotubes. Measurements of Young modulus and of Raman spectra strongly support our interpretation of the indirect role of the oxide groups, present in graphite oxide within the single wall carbon nanotubes/graphite oxide composite, through electronic doping of metallic single wall ca…
In this paper the new concept of super-bridges, i.e. kilometre-long bridges suspended over carbon nanotube cables, is introduced. The analysis shows that the use of realistic (thus defective) carbon nanotube bundles as suspension cables can enlarge the current limit main span by a factor of 3.
First-principles simulations were performed to investigate reaction of carbon nanotubes with adsorbed metal atoms. Mechanical modification of their structures enhances chemical reactivity of carbon nanotubes. Adsorption of a tungsten, tantalum, or niobium atom on a (5, 0) nanotube with a Stone-Wales defect was shown to have characteristically strong chemisorption. Bond-breaking in the carbon-carbon network and formation of a local metal-carbon complex were observed during the simulation. Adsorption of W, Ta, Ni or Mo on a twisted (5, 0) nanotube showed a preferred breaking of several bonds, ev…
We show that separating metallic from semiconducting carbon nanotubes by dielectrophoresis is developing towards a bulk separation method, which allows for the first time to produce thin films of only metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and to measure their optical absorption spectra. The data proofs that the selectivity of the separation scheme is independent from the nanotube diameter.
We have fabricated field effect transistors from carbon nanotubes using a novel selective placement scheme. We use carbon nanotubes that are covalently bound to molecules containing hydroxamic acid functionality. The functionalized nanotubes bind strongly to basic metal oxide surfaces, but not to silicon dioxide. Upon annealing, the functionalization is removed, restoring the electronic properties of the nanotubes. The devices we have fabricated show excellent electrical characteristics.
Fundamentally new families of carbon single walled nanotubes are proposed. These nanotubes, called graphynes, result from the elongation of covalent interconnections of graphite-based nanotubes by the introduction of yne groups. Similarly to ordinary nanotubes, arm-chair, zig-zag, and chiral graphyne nanotubes are possible. Electronic properties, predicted using tight-binding and ab initio density functional methods, show a rich variety of metallic and semiconducting behaviors.
The weak-chemisorption/charge-transfer picture for adsorption of aromatic molecules over carbon nanotubes, proposed in the commented paper, is criticized.
We calculate the van der Waals energy of a C60 molecule when it is encapsulated in a single-walled carbon nanotube with discrete atomistic structure. orientational degrees of freedom and longitudinal displacements of the molecule are taken into account, and several achiral and chiral carbon nanotubes are considered. A comparison with earlier work where the tube was approximated by a continuous cylindrical distribution of carbon atoms is made. We find that such an approximation is valid for high and intermediate tube radii; for low tube radii, minor chirality effects come into play. Three molec…
Electronic and optoelectronic devices based on thin films of carbon nanotubes are currently limited by the presence of metallic nanotubes. Here we present a novel approach based on nanotube alkyl functionalization to physically remove the metallic nanotubes from such network devices. The process relies on preferential thermal desorption of the alkyls from the semiconducting nanotubes and the subsequent dissolution and selective removal of the metallic nanotubes in chloroform. The approach is versatile and is applied to devices post-fabrication.
Metal catalysts supporting the growth of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes display different carbon solubilities and chemical reactivities. In order to specifically assess the role of carbon solubility, we take advantage of the physical transparency of a tight binding model established for Ni-C alloys, to develop metal carbon models where all properties, except carbon solubility, are similar. These models are used to analyze carbon incorporation mechanisms, modifications of metal / carbon wall interfacial properties induced thereby, and the associated nanotube growth mechanisms. Fine tuning carbon …
Carboxylic functionalization (-COOH groups) of carbon nanotubes is known to improve their dispersion properties and increase the electrical conductivity of carbon-nanotube - polymer nanocomposites. We have studied experimentally the effects of this type of functionalization on the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites. It was found that while even small quantities of carbon nanotubes (~1 wt%) can increase the electrical conductivity, a larger loading fraction (~3 wt%) is required to enhance the thermal conductivity of nanocomposites. Functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes performed th…
MD simulations based on an empirical potential energy surface were used to study the nucleation of bamboo-like carbon nanotubes (BCNTs). The simulations reveal that inner walls of the bamboo structure start to nucleate at the junction between the outer nanotube wall and the catalyst particle. In agreement with experimental results, the simulations show that BCNTs nucleate at higher dissolved carbon concentrations (i.e., feedstock pressures) than those where non-bamboolike carbon nanotubes are nucleated.
Large-scale fully interconnected ring carbon nanotube (CNT) networks were first prepared using thermo chemical vapor deposition in nano-channel network templates of porous anodic alumina. This conductive CNT network film consists of billions of nanotube segments with a single layer, and could be made as large as the centimeter size of the template, with a uniform two-dimensional ring topological structure. These CNT networks could be grown from tiny Fe/Co catalyst particles which were electro-deposited into the templates, or totally without additional metallic catalysts. The common interconnec…
A simple method to disperse individual single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT ) on an atomically flat substrate is presented. Proper tuning of ac modes of atomic force microscopes(AFM) is discussed. This is needed to discriminate between individual nanotubes and very small bundles. The distribution of lengths of the nanotubes measured by these methods is reported.
The lattice specific heat of carbon nanotubes is evaluated within the microscopic model proposed by Mahan and Jeon, published in the Physical Review B, in 2004. Phonons are considered for a single wall carbon nanotube in the armchair configuration. As expected, low temperature and high temperature regions show different behavior of specific heat. Carbon nanotubes are also displaying a very interesting lattice transport depending on the diameter, with a rather high thermal conductivity for small diameters.
Classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations employing Brenner potential for intra-nanotube interactions and Van der Waals forces for polymer-nanotube interfaces are used to invetigate the thermal expansion and diffusion characteristics of carbon nanotube-polyethylene composites. Additions of carbon nanotubes to polymer matrix are found to increase the glass transition temperature Tg, and thermal expansion and diffusion coefficients in the composite above Tg. These findings could have implications in CNT composite processing, coating and painting applications.
This letter gives a credit to a pioneering paper that is almost unknown to scientific community. On the basis of Transmission Electron Microscopy images and X-ray Ray Diffraction patterns of carbon multi-layer tubular crystals the authors suggested a model of nanotube structure formation and hypothesis on various chirality of carbon nanotubes.
A novel method is developed to enable the formation, positioning and patterning of individual metal nano-clusters with controllable and monodispersed sizes down to 1-2 nm-scale. Among wide range of potential applications, the nanoparticle arrays are used for deterministic synthesis of monodispersed single walled carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are grown at individually controlled locations with near one-to-one yield, reaching one of the ultimate goals of nanotube synthesis.
Exploring the synthesis of novel molecular nanostructures has been in the forefront of material research in the last decade. One of the most interesting nanostructures are single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Their catalyst free growth, however, remains an elusive goal. Here, we present the growth of single wall carbon nanotubes from organic solvents such as benzene and toluene in a confined environment, inside a host SWCNT. The solvents encapsulated in SWCNTs are transformed to an inner tube when subject to a heat treatment under dynamic vacuum at 1270 $^{\circ}$C. We used isotope labeling …
We predict new forms of carbon consisting of one and two dimensional networks of interlinked single wall carbon nanotubes, some of which are energetically more stable than van der Waals packing of the nanotubes on a hexagonal lattice. These interlinked nanotubes are further transformed with higher applied external pressures to more dense and complicated stable structures, in which curvature-induced carbon sp$^{3}$ re-hybridizations are formed. We also discuss the energetics of the bond formation between nanotubes and the electronic properties of these predicted novel structures.
Novel applications in nanotechnology rely on the design of tailored nano-architectures. For this purpose, carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles are intensively investigated. In this work we study the influence of non-functionalized carbon nanotubes on the synthesis of CdSe nanoparticles by means of organometallic colloidal routes. This new synthesis methodology does not only provide an effective path to attach nanoparticles non-covalently to carbon nanotubes but represents also a new way to control the shape of nanoparticles.
We use a multiscale procedure to derive a simple continuum model of multiwalled carbon nanotubes that takes into account both strong covalent bonds within graphene layers and weak bonds between atoms in different layers. The model predicts polygonization of crossections of large multiwalled nanotubes as a consequence of their curvature-induced turbostratic structure.
Persistent currents in rings constructed from carbon nanotubes are investigated theoretically. After studying the contribution of finite temperature or quenched disorder on covalent rings, the complexity due to the bundle packing is addressed. The case of interacting nanotori and self-interacting coiled nanotubes are analyzed in details in relation with experiments.
We theoretically compute the interface thermal resistance between crossing single walled carbon nanotubes of various chiralities, using an atomistic Green's function approach with semi-empirical potentials. The results are then used to model the thermal conductivity of three dimensional nanotube pellets in vacuum. For an average nanotube length of 1 $μ$m, the model yields an upper bound for the thermal conductivity of densely compacted pellets, of the order of a few W/m-K. This is in striking contrast with the ultra-high thermal conductivity reported on individually suspended nanotubes. The re…
A new group-theory method to relate a spectrum of carbon nanotubes with that of a graphene monolayer is elaborated. The spectrum reconstruction is performed using a virtual intermediate planar periodic structure. Selected irreducible representations of its space symmetry group and all those of the nanotube one are isomorphic and therefore span the correlated excitations. The method is applied to study the origin of the zone-center phonon modes of chiral and achiral carbon nanotubes. The structure of the G-band for particular types of nanotubes is determined. The results obtained could be usefu…
The analytical expressions for the van der Waals potential energy and force between two crossed carbon nanotubes are presented. The Lennard-Jones potential for two carbon atoms and the method of the smeared out approximation suggested by L.A. Girifalco were used. The exact formula is expressed in terms of rational and elliptical functions. The potential and force for carbon nanotubes were calculated. The uniform potential curves for single- and multi- wall nanotubes were plotted. The equilibrium distance, maximal attractive force, and potential energy have been estimated.
Nitrogen doped single wall carbon nanotubes have many functional benefits. Doping opens the possibility to control the electronic energy levels, surface energy, surface reactivity and charge carrier density. The additional electron in the outer shell changes the electronic properties of the nanotubes when introduced into the carbon lattice. Here we present the latest findings in the in-situ doping during synthesis of single wall carbon nanotubes using caffeine as a precursor of both carbon and nitrogen. A special furnace with two heating elements allowed us to sublimate and decompose the solid…
The first order phase transition of a water cluster confined in a dynamic single-walled carbon nanotube is investigated using a classical molecular dynamics (MD) method. The formation of ice-nanotube is monitored through the structure factor and potential energies. The transition temperature and its diameter dependence obtained by the simulations agree well with those of previously reported experiments. The transition temperature of the ice-nanotube was shown to take a maximum value of around room temperature with the number of the ring members n=5. Potential energy contribution to the phase c…
We performed ab initio calculation on the pristine and carbon-doped (5,5) and (9,0) BN nanotubes. It was found that Carbon substitution for either boron or nitrogen in BN nanotubes can induce spontaneous magnetization. Calculations based on density functional theory with the local-spin-density-approximation on the electronic band structure revealed a spin polarized, dispersionless band near the Fermi energy. The magnetization can be attributed to the carbon 2p electron. Compared to other theoretical models of light-element or metal-free magnetic materials, the Carbon-doped BN nanotubes are mor…
We use ab initio density functional calculations to study the chemical functionalization of single-wall carbon nanotubes and graphene monolayers by silyl (SiH3) radicals and hydrogen. We find that silyl radicals form strong covalent bonds with graphene and nanotube walls, causing local structural relaxations that enhance the sp3 character of these graphitic nanostructures. Silylation transforms all carbon nanotubes into semiconductors, independent of their chirality. Calculated vibrational spectra suggest that specific frequency shifts can be used as a signature of successful silylation.
We have computed the adsorption of Krypton in a closed single-walled carbon nanotube using the method of Grand Canonical Monte Carlo. Our results indicate evidence of an incommensurate solid formed at high pressure and low temperature (T<85K), before the formation of a second layer. The solid melts above that temperature. Our simulations are in good agreement with novel experimental results for adsorption in individual carbon nanotubes.
The poor thermal conductivity of bulk polymers may be enhanced by combining them with high thermal conductivity materials such as carbon nanotubes. Different from random doping, we find that the aligned carbon nanotube-polyethylene composites (ACPCs) has a high thermal conductivity by non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The analyses indicate that the aligned structure can not only take advantage of the high thermal conduction of carbon nanotubes, but enhance thermal conduction of polyethylene (PE) chains. Our predictions may inspire manufacturing aligned polymer-based composites fo…
The nucleation of carbon nanotubes on small nickel clusters is studied using a tight binding model coupled to grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. This technique closely follows the conditions of the synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition. The possible formation of a carbon cap on the catalyst particle is studied as a function of the carbon chemical potential, for particles of different size, either crystalline or disordered. We show that these parameters strongly influence the structure of the cap/particle interface which in turn will have a strong effect on the contro…
We investigate the field emission properties of nitrogenated and boronated carbon nanotubes using time-dependent density functional theory, were the wave function propagation is performed using the Crank-Nicholson algorithm. We extract the current-voltage characteristics of the emitted electrons from nanotubes with different doping configurations. We found that boron doping either impedes, or slightly enhances, field emission. Nitrogen strongly influences the emission current, and the current is sensitive to the location of the nitrogen dopant in the nanotube. The emitted charge cloud from nit…
We fabricated cantilevers for magnetic force microscopy with carbon nanotube tips coated with magnetic material. Images of a custom hard drive demonstrated 20 nm lateral resolution, with prospects for further improvements.
Single- and multi-walled molybdenum disulfide (MoS$_2$) nanotubes have been coaxially grown on small diameter boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) which were synthesized from heteronanotubes by removing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), and systematically investigated by optical spectroscopy. The strong photoluminescence (PL) from single-walled MoS$_2$ nanotubes supported by core BNNTs is observed in this work, which evidences a direct band gap structure for single-walled MoS$_2$ nanotubes with around 6 - 7 nm in diameter. The observation is consistent with our DFT results that the single-wa…
Process of vapor pyrolytic deposition of carbon on nickel and cobalt-containing ordered mesoporous MCM-41 matrices at decomposition of acetylene have been investigated. Formation of nanotubes, nanowires and amorphous carbon particles depending pyrolysis conditions is observed.
Carbon nanotubes have emerged as a possible new material for electronic applications. They show promising characteristics for transistors as well as for interconnects. Here we review their basic properties and focus on the status of nanotubes with respect to their application as interconnects and discuss the challenges facing their integration.
We analyze two scattering mechanisms that might cause intrinsic electronic resistivity in multi-wall carbon nanotubes: scattering by dopant impurities, and scattering by inter-tube electron-electron interaction. We find that for typically doped multi-wall tubes backward scattering at dopants is by far the dominating effect.
The crystallographic structure of CdSe nanoparticles attached to carbon nanotubes has been elucidated by means of high resolution transmission electron microscopy and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. CdSe rod-like nanoparticles, grown in solution together with carbon nanotubes, undergo a morphological transformation and become attached to the carbon surface. Electron tomography reveals that the nanoparticles are hexagonal-based with the (001) planes epitaxially matched to the outer graphene layer.
We present the first-principles study of effects of the charge dopants such as Cesium and Iodine encapsulated on the electronic structure of carbon nanotubes. An encapsulated cesium atom donates an electron to the nanotube and produces donor-like states below the conduction bands. In contrast, an iodine trimer (I$_{3}$) accepts an electron from the nanotube and produces an acceptor-like state above the valance band maximum. We find that a Cs atom inside a metallic armchair carbon nanotube gives rise to spatial oscillations of the density of states near the Fermi level.
Team C2CNT, or team Carbon dioxide to carbon nanotubes, proprietary technology directly removes the widest range of carbon dioxide from the ecosystem. C2CNT technology simply transforms low to high carbon dioxide into carbon and oxygen, and the carbon produced is permanently removed, that is stable on the order of geologic time frames. C2CNT technology directly removes, transforms and stores atmospheric 0.04% CO2 without pre-concentration from the air, or 5% CO2 removal of gas power plant CO2 emissions, or 12.5% CO2 removal of coal power plant CO2 emissions, or 33% CO2 (pertinent to the comple…
Tweaking the properties of carbon nanotubes is a prerequisite for their practical applications. Here we demonstrate fine-tuning the electronic properties of single-wall carbon nanotubes via filling with ferrocene molecules. The evolution of the bonding and charge transfer within the tube is demonstrated via chemical reaction of the ferrocene filler ending up as secondary inner tube. The charge transfer nature is interpreted well within density functional theory. This work gives the first direct observation of a fine-tuned continuous amphoteric doping of single-wall carbon nanotubes.
We present a detailed electron diffraction study of individual single-walled carbon nanotubes. A novel sample preparation procedure provides well-separated, long and straight individual single-shell nanotubes. Diffraction experiments are carried out at 60kV, below the threshold for knock-on damage in carbon nanotubes. We describe experimental parameters that allow single-tube electron diffraction experiments with widely available thermal emission transmission electron microscopes. Further, we review the simulation of diffraction patterns for these objects.
The work here has demonstrated the use a simple microwave plasma process for welding carbon nanotubes onto solid surfaces such as plastics and glasses, it was found that due to the lower softening point and viscosity of polystyrene (compared to glass samples), welding of carbon nanotubes on polystyrene surface can be achieved with higher efficiency, whilst the high softening point (and melt viscosity) of lime-soda and borosilicate glasses prevents the nanotubes from forming a continuous layer. Analysis of the quality of nanotubes by Raman spectroscopy confirmed that some defects are introduced…
One- and two-photon luminescence excitation spectroscopy showed a series of distinct excitonic states in single-walled carbon nanotubes. The energy splitting between one- and two-photon-active exciton states of different wavefunction symmetry is the fingerprint of excitonic interactions in carbon nanotubes. We determine exciton binding energies of 0.3-0.4 eV for different nanotubes with diameters between 0.7 and 0.9 nm. Our results, which are supported by ab-initio calculations of the linear and non-linear optical spectra, prove that the elementary optical excitations of carbon nanotubes are s…
The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of single-wall carbon nanotubes are calculated using a dipole approximation. The calculated CD spectra show features that allow us to distinguish between nanotubes with different angles of chirality, and diameters. These results provide theoretical support for the quantification of chirality and its measurement, using the CD lineshapes of chiral nanotubes. It is expected that this information would be useful to motivate further experimental studies.
We formulate and justify several proposals utilizing the unique electronic properties of different types of carbon nanotubes for a broad range of applications to THz optoelectronics, including THz generation by hot electrons in quasi-metallic nanotubes, frequency multiplication in chiral-nanotube-based superlattices controlled by a transverse electric field, and THz radiation detection and emission by armchair nanotubes in a strong magnetic field.
The current characteristics of DNA decorated carbon nanotubes for different gas odors are studied. A simple model of charge transfer between the Gas-DNA-base complex and single wall carbon nanotube (SWCN) is proposed to explain the current response for different odors. The autocorrelation and two-point correlation functions are calculated for the current sensitivity curves. These correlation functions together with the current characteristics form finger-prints for detection of the odor and DNA sequence.
We present a systematic experimental investigation of the reactions between hydrogen plasma and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at various temperatures. Microscopy, infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy and electrical transport measurements are carried out to investigate the properties of SWNTs after hydrogenation. Structural deformations, drastically reduced electrical conductance and increased semiconducting nature of SWNTs upon sidewall hydrogenation are observed. These changes are reversible upon thermal annealing at 500C via dehydrogenation. Harsh plasma or high temperature reaction…
We show, using ab initio total energy density functional theory, that the so-called Wigner defects, an interstitial carbon atom right besides a vacancy, which are present in irradiated graphite can also exist in bundles of carbon nanotubes. Due to the geometrical structure of a nanotube, however, this defect has a rather low formation energy, lower than the vacancy itself, suggesting that it may be one of the most important defects that are created after electron or ion irradiation. Moreover, they form a strong link between the nanotubes in bundles, increasing their shear modulus by a sizeable…
We describe a film of highly-aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes that acts as an excellent terahertz linear polarizer. There is virtually no attenuation (strong absorption) when the terahertz polarization is perpendicular (parallel) to the nanotube axis. From the data we calculated the reduced linear dichrosim to be 3, corresponding to a nematic order parameter of 1, which demonstrates nearly perfect alignment as well as intrinsically anisotropic terahertz response of single-walled carbon nanotubes in the film.
We use electrostatic force microscopy and scanned gate microscopy to probe the conducting properties of carbon nanotubes at room temperature. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are shown to be diffusive conductors, while metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes are ballistic conductors over micron lengths. Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes are shown to have a series of large barriers to conduction along their length. These measurements are also used to probe the contact resistance and locate breaks in carbon nanotube circuits.
The stabilization of carbon nanotubes via the filling with inner tubes is demonstrated by probing the optical transitions in double-walled carbon nanotube bundles under hydrostatic pressure with optical spectroscopy. Double-walled carbon nanotube films were prepared from fullerene peapods and characterized by HRTEM and optical spectroscopy. In comparison to single-walled carbon nanotubes, the pressure-induced redshifts of the optical transitions in the outer tubes are significantly smaller below $\sim$10 GPa, demonstrating the enhanced mechanical stability due to the inner tube already at low …
We report that ice nanotubes with odd number of side faces inside carbon nanotubes exhibit spontaneous electric polarization along its axes direction by using molecular dynamics simulations. The mechanism of this nanoscale quasi-one-dimensional ferroelectricity is due to low dimensional confinement and the orientational order of hydrogen bonds. These ferroelectric fiber structural materials are different from traditional perovskite structural bulk materials.
We report the calculation of paraconductivity in carbon nanotubes above the superconducting transition temperature. The complex behavior of paraconductivity depending upon the tube radius, temperature and magnetic field strength is analyzed. The results are qualitatively compared with recent experimental observations in carbon nanotubes of an inherent transition to the superconducting state and pronounced thermodynamic fluctuations above $T_{c}$. The application of our results to single-wall and multi-wall carbon nanotubes as well as ropes of nanotubes is discussed.
At any metal-carbon nanotube interface there is charge transfer and the induced interfacial field determines the position of the carbon nanotube band structure relative to the metal Fermi-level. In the case of a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) supported on a gold substrate, we show that the charge transfers induce a local electrostatic potential perturbation which gives rise to the observed Fermi-level shift in scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements. We also discuss the relevance of this study to recent experiments on carbon nanotube transistors and argue that the Fermi-level al…
