Filled CNTs

The preparation of metal-filled carbon nanotubes broadens the field of applications for these nanostructures. As CNTs exhibit an extreme mechanically as well as chemically stable shell structure they provide an excellent casing for various materials. By filling their hollow interior with metals nanoscaled wires can be obtained. Thus filled CNTs promise to be challenging constituents of nano-devices such as nanocables, nanoelectronic circuits, nanoswitches, nanopipettes or nano-thermometers.

SEM and TEM images of Cu nanowires

 

 

Diffraction pattern taken from the Cu filling along the [211]_fcc zone axis, the calculated pattern is overlayed  

Aftertreatment

additional heat treatment under vacuum

• Cu extruded from the carbon sheath;
• C shell remains as an empty nanotube ;
• melting achieved down to 840^oC (Nanosize effect).

TEM images of Cu nanowires reheated at 840^oC and at 1100^oC

 

Scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-TEM-studies on the Cu nanowires

Experimental setup for nanocable electrical probing

 

Applications:

• nano pipettes
• contacting
• spot-welding

 

Morphological changes and related electrical performance of Cu filled CNTs under gold tip biasing inside TEM. (a) Low-magnification TEM image of a gold wire (with protruding nanotubes) approaching a gold tip; (b-h) Consecutive TEM images taken during nanocable approaching (b); contacting (c); biasing (d-g) and gold wire retracting (h)

 

Possibilities of a filled Cu mass exchange and transport between two individual physically merged tubes, and controlled Cu electromigration under gold tip biasing. (a-e), TEM images illustrating consecutive stages of encapsulated copper mass transport under change in the sign of a bias voltage on the gold tip electrode

Publications:

1. P.M.F.J. Costa, D. Golberg, M. Mitome, S. Hampel, A. Leonhardt, B. Buechner, Y. Bando Stepwise current-Driven release of attogram quantities of copper iodide encapsulated in carbon nanotubes, Nanoletters 8 (2008) Nr.10, P.3120-3125 URL
2. C. Mueller, S. Hampel, D. Haase, D. Elefant, T. Muehl, A. Vyalikh, R. Klingeler, D. Golberg, A. Leonhardt, B. Buechner Selected synthesis methods for nanowires encapsulated inside carbon nanostructures and their fascinating properties, in: Nanorods, Nanotubes and Nanomaterials Research Progress; W. V. Prescott and A. I. Schwartz (eds.), Nova Science Publishers (2008) P.305-324 URL
3. D. Haase, S. Hampel, A. Leonhardt, J. Thomas, N. Mattern, B. Buechner Facile one-step-synthesis of carbon wrapped copper nanowires by thermal decomposition of Copper(II)acetylacetonate, Surface and Coatings Technology 201 (2007) Nr.22-23, P.9184-9188 URL
4. D. Golberg, P. Costa, M. Mitome, S. Hampel, D. Haase, C. Mueller, A. Leonhardt, Y. Bando Copper-filled carbon nanotubes: rheostatlike behavior and femtogram copper mass transport, Advanced Materials 19 (2007) Nr.15, P.1937-1942 URL

 

 

For more information don't hesitate to contact.

 

Contacts:

Dr. Silke Hampel
Department 'Chemical Vapor Deposition'
Institute for Solid State Research (IFF)
IFW Dresden
D-01171 Dresden, Germany

Phone: +49-351-4659-323
Fax: +49-351-4659-313

Email: S.Hampel@ifw-dresden.de

 

Dr. Albrecht Leonhardt
Department 'Chemical Vapor Deposition'
Institute for Solid State Research (IFF)
IFW Dresden
D-01171 Dresden, Germany

Phone: +49-351-4659-299
Fax: +49-351-4659-313

Email: a.leonhardt@ifw-dresden.de

 

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See also:

Filled and coated CNTs

Initial page of department CVD