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Enhancement of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes’ Electrical Conductivity Using Metal Nanoscale Copper Contacts and Its Implications for Carbon Nanotube-Enhanced Copper Conductivity

Christopher Barnett, James McCormack, Eva M. Deemer, Chris Evans, Jonathan Evans, Alvin Orbaek White Orcid Logo, Peter Dunstan Orcid Logo, Russell R. Chianelli, Richard Cobley Orcid Logo, Andrew Barron Orcid Logo

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Volume: 124, Issue: 34, Pages: 18777 - 18783

Swansea University Authors: Christopher Barnett, James McCormack, Chris Evans, Jonathan Evans, Alvin Orbaek White Orcid Logo, Peter Dunstan Orcid Logo, Richard Cobley Orcid Logo, Andrew Barron Orcid Logo

Abstract

Herein, we present an experimental/computational approach for probing the interaction between metal contacts and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with regard to creating the most efficient, low resistance junction. Tungsten probes have been coated with copper or chromium and the efficiency of nanocontact tra...

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Published in: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
ISSN: 1932-7447 1932-7455
Published: American Chemical Society (ACS) 2020
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55002
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Abstract: Herein, we present an experimental/computational approach for probing the interaction between metal contacts and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with regard to creating the most efficient, low resistance junction. Tungsten probes have been coated with copper or chromium and the efficiency of nanocontact transport into multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has been investigated experimentally, using scanning tunneling spectroscopy and nanoscale two-point probe I-V measurements, and in silico, employing DFT calculations. Experimental I-V measurements suggest the relative conductivity of the metal-CNT interaction to be Cu > W > Cr. It has been found that copper when in contact with MWCNTs results in a high density of states at the Fermi level, which contributes states to the conduction band. It was observed that the density of states also increased when chromium and tungsten probes were in contact with CNTs; however, in these cases the density of states increase would only occur under high voltage/high temperature situations. This is demonstrated by an increase in the experimental electrical resistance when compared to the copper probe. These results suggest that in future copper tips should be used when carrying out all intrinsic conduction measurements on CNTs, and they also provide a rationale for the ultraconductivity of Cu-CNT and Cu-graphene composites.
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Issue: 34
Start Page: 18777
End Page: 18783