Enhanced copper–carbon nanotube hybrid conductors with titanium adhesion layer
Cu–carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrids combine the advantages of the high electrical conductivity of Cu with the low temperature coefficient of resistance for CNTs, but require enhanced interfacing to improve the electrical performance when exposed to elevated temperatures. In this work, Ti and Ni were investigated as adhesion metals by thermally evaporating 10 nm layers onto a CNT conductor. SEM analysis shows Ni deposits as discrete nanoscale crystallites which coalesce after annealing to 400 °C in H2/Ar. Ti deposits uniformly along the CNT surface and is stable over such temperatures. A 100 nm deposition of Cu is shown to delaminate frommore »