Photocurrent imaging of charge transport barriers in carbon nanotube devices

Nano Lett. 2005 Mar;5(3):507-10. doi: 10.1021/nl050053k.

Abstract

The realization of high-performance electrical devices incorporating single-wall carbon nanotubes critically depends on the minimization of charge transport barriers in the tubes and at the contacts. Herein we demonstrate photocurrent imaging as a fast and effective tool to locate such barriers within individual metallic nanotubes contacted by metal electrodes. The locally induced photocurrents directly reflect the existence of built-in electric fields associated with the presence of depletion layers at the contacts or structural defects along the tubes.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electric Impedance
  • Electrochemistry / instrumentation
  • Electrochemistry / methods*
  • Electron Transport
  • Electronics
  • Equipment Failure Analysis / methods*
  • Materials Testing / methods*
  • Microscopy, Polarization / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / analysis
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure*
  • Photochemistry / instrumentation
  • Photochemistry / methods*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon