Direct generation of a voltage and current by gas flow over carbon nanotubes and semiconductors

We report here a direct generation of measurable voltages and currents when a gas flows over a variety of solids even at the modest speed of a few meters per second. The underlying mechanism is an interesting interplay of Bernoulli's principle and the Seebeck effect: Pressure differences along streamlines give rise to temperature differences across the sample; these in turn produce the measured voltage. The electrical signal is quadratically dependent on the Mach number M and proportional to the Seebeck coefficient of the solids. Results are presented for doped Si and Ge, single wall and multiwall carbon nanotubes, and graphite. Our results show that gas flow sensors and energy conversion devices can be constructed based on direct generation of electrical signals.     

The electrical conduction variation in stained carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes become stained from coupling with foreign molecules, especially from adsorbing gas molecules. The charge exchange, which is due to the orbital hybridization, occurred in the stained carbon nanotube induces electrical dipoles that consequently vary the electrical conduction of the nanotube. We propose a microscopic model to evaluate the electrical current variation produced by the induced electrical dipoles in a stained zigzag carbon nanotube. It is found that stronger orbital hybridization strengths and larger orbital energy differences between the carbon nanotube and the gas molecules help increasing the induced electrical dipole moment. Compared with the stain-free carbon nanotube, the induced electrical dipoles suppress the current in the nanotube. In the carbon nanotubes with induced dipoles the current increases as a result of increasing orbital energy dispersion via stronger hybridization couplings. In particular, at a fixed hybridization coupling, the current increases with the bond length for the donor-carbon nanotube but reversely for the acceptor-carbon nanotube.     

Nanotube Electron Drag in Flowing Liquids

We show that electric current can be generated in metallic carbon nanotubes immersed in liquids flowing along them. Molecular layers of the liquid coat the nanotube, slip along its surface, and excite there a phonon wind, which drags free carriers in the tube. The induced electric current should allow building of nanoscale detectors or power cells.     

170keV质子辐照对多壁碳纳米管薄膜微观结构与导电性能的影响

碳纳米管具有优异的导电性, 是未来电子元器件的理想候选材料, 应用前景广阔. 针对碳纳米管在空间电子元器件的应用需求, 本文研究了170 keV质子辐照对多壁碳纳米管薄膜微观结构与导电性能的影响. 采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、拉曼光谱仪(Raman)、X射线光电子能谱仪(XPS)及电子顺磁共振谱仪(EPR)对辐照前后碳纳米管试样的表面形貌和微观结构进行分析; 利用四探针测试仪对碳纳米管薄膜进行导电性能分析. SEM分析表明, 170 keV质子辐照条件下, 当辐照注量高于5×10¹⁵ p/cm² (protons/cm²)时, 碳纳米管薄膜表面变得粗糙疏松, 纳米管发生明显弯曲、收缩及相互缠结现象. 目前, 质子辐照纳米管发生的收缩现象被首次发现. 基于Raman和XPS分析表明, 170 keV质子辐照后碳纳米管的有序结构得到改善, 且随辐照注量增加, 碳纳米管的有序结构改善明显. 结构的改善主要是由于170 keV质子辐照碳纳米管所产生的位移效应导致缺陷重组. EPR分析表明, 随着辐照注量的增加, 碳纳米管薄膜内的非局域化电子减少. 利用四探针测试分析表明, 碳纳米管薄膜的导电性能变差, 这是由于170 keV质子辐照导致碳纳米管薄膜中的电子特性及形态发生改变. 本文研究结果有助于利用质子辐照对碳纳米管膜结构和性能进行调整, 从而制备出抗辐射的纳米电子器件.     

Fabrication of gas ionization sensor based on titanium oxide nanotube arrays

Gas sensors have been fabricated based on field ionization from titanium oxide nanotubes grown on titanium foil. Ordered nanaotube arrays of titanium oxides were grown by the anodization method. We measured breakdown voltages and discharge currents of the device for various gases. Our gas ionization sensors (GIS) presented good sensitivity, selectivity, and short response time. The GISs based on TiO₂ nanotube arrays showed lower breakdown voltage, higher discharge current, and good selectivity. An excellent response observed for Ar compared to other gases. Besides, by introducing 2 % CO and 4 % H₂ to N₂ flow gas, the amount of breakdown voltage shifts about 20 and 70 volts to the lower values, respectively. The GIS works at room temperature and has the ability of detect inert gases with high stability and good linearity. Besides, short response time of about 1 second for the GISs based on TiO₂ nanotube arrays makes them excellent for gas sensing applications. Sharp edges of the nanotubes, through enhancing the applied electric field, reduce operating voltage to the reasonable values and power consumption.     

Electron microscope vualization of muliphase fluids contained in closed carbon nanotubes

Aqueous multiphase fluids trapped in closed multiwall carbon nanotubes are visualized with high resolution using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hydrothermally synthesized nanotubes have inner diameter of 70 nm and wall thickness 20 nm, on average. The nanotubes are hydrophilic due to oxygen groups attached on their wall surfaces. Segregated liquid inclusions contained in the nanotubes under high pressure can be mobilized by heating. A resistive heating stage is utilized to heat a thin membrane inside a nanotube, causing the membrane to evaporate slowly and eventually pinch off. Focused electron beam heating is employed as a second means of thermal stimulation, which results in localized heating. With the latter method, gas/liquid interface motion is observed inside the thin channel of a carbon nanotube. Experiments like the ones presented herein may help understand the dynamics of fluids contained in nanoscale channels.     

Effect of uniaxial tensile strength on the electrical properties of doped carbon nanotubes: Density functional theory

We investigated the effect of uniaxial tensile strength on a pristine carbon nanotube, boron-doped carbon nanotube, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube and co-doped carbon nanotube with boron and nitrogen atoms. To achieve our goal, we performed our calculations with the aid of density functional theory. We studied the changes in the electrical properties after the atomic substitution of a carbon atom by boron, nitrogen, and boron and nitrogen in pristine carbon nanotubes. We also applied uniaxial tensile strength to doped structures as well as pristine one. In addition to studying the band gap, we studied the changes in the Fermi energy, valence bands, and conduction bands. We found that defects as well as stress and strain play a crucial rule on modifying the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes.     

Nonlinear resistance of polymer composites with carbon nanotube additives in the percolation state

The electrical properties of a polymer composite with carbon nanotube additives have been analyzed. The state of the system near the percolation threshold, when charge is transferred along a single percolation path, has been considered. For this state, the current–voltage characteristics of a percolation chain made up of carbon nanotubes have been calculated under the assumption that the contact resistance between neighboring nanotubes is much higher than the intrinsic resistance of the nanotubes. According to recent data, the distance between neighboring (contacting) nanotubes has been assumed to be randomly distributed. It has been shown that, under the given conditions, the current–voltage characteristic is essentially nonlinear. This indicates the nonohmic conductivity of the composites. The dependence of the current–voltage characteristic on the spread of the contact distribution over distances has been discussed.     

Magnetic field dependence of the hexagonal to isotropic transition temperature of a single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed lyotropic liquid crystal

We have carried out electrical conductivity studies on a single-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed lyotropic liquid crystal consisting of 50 wt.% TX-100 in water as a function of magnetic field and temperature. This system exhibits hexagonal and isotropic phases on heating. For all the applied magnetic fields, the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotubes dispersed lyotropic liquid crystal system exhibits a discontinuous change at the hexagonal to isotropic transition temperature. We find that the magnetic field dependence of the hexagonal to isotropic transition temperature is similar to that of the viscosity of the system. Using photo images of the sample, we find that the carbon nanotubes in the lyotropic liquid crystal form magnetic field dependent aggregates. We find spherical, rod and hook-like nanotube aggregates for low and high applied magnetic fields respectively. These nanotube aggregates alter the viscosity of our system which in turn alters the transition temperatures.     

High-field quasiballistic transport in short carbon nanotubes

Single walled carbon nanotubes with Pd Ohmic contacts and lengths ranging from several microns down to 10 nm are investigated by electron transport experiments and theory. The mean-free path (MFP) for acoustic phonon scattering is estimated to be l(ap) approximately 300 nm, and that for optical phonon scattering is l(op) approximately 15 nm. Transport through very short (approximately 10 nm) nanotubes is free of significant acoustic and optical phonon scattering and thus ballistic and quasiballistic at the low- and high-bias voltage limits, respectively. High currents of up to 70 microA can flow through a short nanotube. Possible mechanisms for the eventual electrical breakdown of short nanotubes at high fields are discussed. The results presented here have important implications to high performance nanotube transistors and interconnects.     

Optimization of the parameters of a carbon nanotube-based field-emission cathode

A procedure for optimizing a field-emission cathode based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is developed. An array of identical equidistant vertical CNTs is considered. The optimization procedure takes into account the effect of screening of an electric field by neighboring nanotubes by solving a Laplace equation and the thermal instability of nanotubes, which limits the emission current density of a nanotube, by solving a heat conduction equation. The relation between the emission current and the applied voltage is described by the Fowler-Nordheim relationship containing the CNT tip temperature as a parameter. Upon optimization, the optimum distance between CNTs that ensures the maximum emission current density is calculated. The calculation results demonstrate that this parameter depends substantially on both the applied voltage and the nanotube geometry. These dependences are weakly sensitive to the choice of the transport coefficients (thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity) of nanotubes.     

Interaction kinetics of atoms and molecules on carbon nanotube surfaces

We review recent experimental investigations of the interaction of gases with the surface of single-wall carbon nanotube bundles. We discuss thermal desorption spectra of both non-polar and polar adsorbates for low and high coverage. We show experimental results for diffusion processes of Xe along and within carbon nanotube bucky paper material, which is consistent with a recently proposed coupled desorption diffusion (CDD) model. We further discuss details of the interaction of ammonia with carbon nanotube surfaces, including the experimental investigation of the influence of adsorbed ammonia on the electrical transport properties of carbon nanotubes under ultra-high vacuum conditions.     

The parameter space for the direct spinning of fibres and films of carbon nanotubes

We have recently introduced a method for the continuous spinning of carbon nanotube fibres and films directly from the gas phase of a chemical vapour deposition furnace [Y. Li, et al., Science 304 (2004) 276]. In this work the effect of the process parameters on the ability to spin continuously is studied, with particular focus on the carrier gas and feedstock flow rates. Catalyst dilution by high carrier gas flow rates led to smaller diameter nanotubes but these conditions are found the hardest to spin.     

Differential conductance of armchair single-wall carbon nanotubes due to presence of electron–phonon interaction

We have theoretically investigated the first correction to conductance of armchair single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with finite length, embedded between two electrodes, due to the presence of electron–transversal phonon interaction. The perturbative scheme has been used with finite length real space nearest neighbors tight binding method. Both radial breathing and tangential modes are investigated separately. It is found that not only the conductance correction crucially depends on source-drain voltage but also it strongly depends on the length and diameter of SWCNT. So, this work opens up opportunities to control the electrical conductance of SWCNT and increases yield of micro or nanodevices based on carbon nanotube.     

AFM detection of the mechanical resonances of coiled carbon nanotubes

We introduce a method for atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based detection of mechanical resonances in helix-shaped multi-walled carbon nanotubes. After deposition on an oxidized silicon substrate, the three-dimensional structure of suspended nanotubes, which bridges an artificially created step on the surface, can be visualized using AFM operating in the non-contact mode. The suspended coiled nanotubes are resonantly excited, in situ, at the fundamental frequency by an ultrasonic transducer connected to the substrate. When the AFM tip is positioned above the coiled nanotube, the cantilever is unable to follow the fast nanotube oscillations. Nevertheless, an oscillation amplitude-dependent signal is generated due to the non-linear force-to-distance dependence. Measurement of the mechanical resonances of the helix-shaped carbon nanotubes can be used to quantitatively determine their elastic properties. Assuming that a coiled nanotube can be modeled as a suspended helix-shaped uniformly thin elastic beam, the obtained resonance frequency is consistent with a Young's modulus of 0.17ǂ.05 TPa.     

单壁碳纳米管薄膜光电器件研究

制备了单壁碳纳米管薄膜光电器件,在偏压和激光器照射条件下可产生净光电流。分别研究了偏置电压、激光功率、照射位置对净光电流的影响。实验表明,激光照射薄膜中点,净光电流随着偏压的增大而增大,随激光功率的增大而趋于饱和,偏压为0.2 V,激光功率为22.7 mW时,净光电流达到0.24 μA;无偏压,激光照射薄膜不同位置时,净光电流值关于器件中心对称分布,照射两端点输出最大光电流,照射中点输出趋于“0”。经分析,在偏压和激光照射薄膜中心位置的条件下,器件因内光电效应可产生净光电流;在无偏压和激光照射的条件下,因光热电效应可产生净光电流,并建立了温度模型,根据单壁碳纳米管的热电势特性推导出了净光电流与光照位置的关系,其符合实验结果;内光电和光热电效应是光电流产生、变化的原因,在偏压和激光照射的一般条件下,净光电流应是两种效应的叠加结果。器件所具有的光电特性使其在光伏器件、光传感器有应用的潜力。     

Simple and accurate model for voltage-dependent resistance of metallic carbon nanotube interconnects: An ab initio study

In this work, development of a voltage dependent resistance model for metallic carbon nanotubes is aimed. Firstly, the resistance of metallic carbon nanotube interconnects are obtained from ab initio simulations and then the voltage dependence of the resistance is modeled through regression. Self-consistent non-equilibrium Green's function formalism combined with density functional theory is used for calculating the voltage dependent resistance of metallic carbon nanotubes. It is shown that voltage dependent resistances of carbon nanotubes can be accurately modeled as a polynomial function which enables rapid integration of carbon nanotube interconnect models into electronic design automation tools.     

THE RAMAN SCATTERING OF CARBON NANOTUBES PRODUCED IN DIFFERENT INERT GASES AND THEIR PRESSURES BY ARC DISCHARGE

First- and second-order Raman spectra of carbon nanotubes produced in helium and argon atmospheres at a pressure ranging from 11 to 92 kPa by arc discharge have been measured and compared with each other. The position and bandwidth of the spectral lines depend on the kind of inert gases and their pressure. The Raman spectra of the nanotubes produced in argon gas atmosphere are much more similar to that of polycrystalline graphite than those of the nanotubes produced in helium gas atmosphere. The position and bandwidth of nanotube Raman peaks change with gas pressure in arc discharge because different diameter distribution of nanotubes is produced at different inert gas pressure. The Raman spectra of nanotubes produced at high pressure is much more like that of graphite than those produced in lower pressure     

用散粒噪声测量碳纳米管中Luttinger参数

将碳纳米管的载流子输运用基本电荷为ge的Fermi液态模型描述，利用散射理论计算出纳米管中的零频率散粒噪声，在绝对零度下，存在一个强势垒的碳纳米管的散粒噪声为2geI.提出了一种测试纳米管Luttinger参数的新方法：在纳米管上形成一个强势垒，通过测试其散粒噪声，就可以计算出g因子. 关键词： 碳纳米管 Luttinger参数 散粒噪声 散射理论     

Single-walled carbon nanotubes formation with a continuous CO2-laser: experiments and theory

It has been proved [1] that the use of a CO₂-laser system operating in continuous wave mode (cw) can be efficiently used for the production of carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs). In this article we first describe in detail the variable experimental conditions (different ambient gases, static gas pressure, and gas flow) for SWNT formation and summarize the results of the characterization studies of the synthesized materials. Second, we analyze the influence of the different experimental conditions on the SWNTs formation process. We show that the heat transport, kinetic, and diffusion processes allow us to explain seemingly different formation conditions in a qualitative and semi-quantitative agreement with the experimental results. The presented self-consistent scenario for nanotube formation in a gas phase allowed us to propose future experiments on testing the mechanism of nanotube formation.