STM investigation of single-wall carbon nanotubes at room temperature
- Electrotechanical Laboratory, 1-1-4 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8568 (Japan)
- Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-osawa, Hachi-oji, Tokyo 192-0397 (Japan)
We have used scanning tunneling microscope (STM), operated in ambient conditions, to investigate the atomic structure of single walled-carbon nanotubes (SWNT). The microscopic scale images show tubes condensed in ropes as well as tubes which are separated from each other. For a single-wall nanotube rope, the outer portion is composed of highly oriented nanotubes with nearly uniform diameter and chirality. On separated nanotubes, atomically resolved images show variable chirality ranges between 0-30 deg., and variable diameter (1-3 nm ), with no one type dominant. From STM and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) measurements we confirmed the correlation between the structural parameters and the electronic properties, namely the tuning from metallic to semiconducting. We also observed a rectifying behavior correlated with the chiral angle of 25 deg., an important observation for nano-devices application.
- OSTI ID:
- 21210526
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 486, Issue 1; Conference: 13. international winterschool on electronic properties of novel materials - Science and technology of molecular nanostructures, Kirchberg, Tirol (Austria), 27 Feb - 6 Mar 1999; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.59802; (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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