Objective Carbon Nanotubes will be functionalised by appropriate chemical groups in order to form binding sites, which can couple individual tubes in a liquid environment. The resulting tube networks will be attached to patterned substrates in order to fabricate demonstrator devices, which will be investigated by electrical transport measurements and scanning probe microscopy. Carbon Nanotubes will be functionalised by appropriate chemical groups in order to form binding sites, which can couple individual tubes in a liquid environment. The resulting tube networks will be attached to patterned substrates in order to fabricate demonstrator devices, which will be investigated by electrical transport measurements and scanning probe microscopy.OBJECTIVESUtilization of Carbon Nanotubes as active elements in electronic devices needs the ability to form well-defined electrical contacts between tubes and metallic leads as well as between individual tubes. Procedures for fabrication of single-walled nanotube networks connected by appropriate chemical linker molecules and electrical characterization will be the key goal. Binding organic linker molecules to the tube ends will modify tubes. By choosing appropriate complementary molecules we will form electronically active junctions, bridging individual nanotubes. Networks of tubes formed in this way will be attached to substrates in order to allow characterization of the transport properties across the junctions. Supported by theoretical studies, demonstrator devices will be fabricated which can be used as candidates for further optimisation.DESCRIPTION OF WORKSingle-walled Carbon Nanotubes will be synthesized by arc-discharge methods with a high yield and low defect concentration. Purification of the nanotubes will be done by established methods. These solutions will be used as a starting point for the formation of electrically conducting junctions connecting individual tubes. The junction formation is done by several subsequent chemical procedures which all have to be exercised in liquid environment. The position of linker molecules on a carbon nanotube is controlled by the amount of local curvature and by in homogeneities of the local environment of carbon atoms along the wall. As a consequence, linker molecules can be attached predominantly at the ends of tubes. By controlling the position and density of structural and geometrical defects along the tube, it is will be possible to attach additional linker molecules along the wall in a well-defined way. The choice of the chemical species and procedures used for synthesis and attachment of linker structures will be strongly supported by theoretical modelling. Tube networks will be attached to substrates by various techniques. After identification of tube-tube junction configurations a novel technique will be used allowing the formation of electrical connections between contact grid and tube ends by metalorganic scanning-probe assisted deposition. This method ensures that contacts can be made with very high lateral precision and no structural damage or contamination of the tube surface occurs as a result of the contact fabrication process. Fabrication methods described will be used for the formation of two demonstrator devices where the electrical transport characteristics across the intertube junctions will be characterised. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopy Keywords Nanotechnology Programme(s) FP5-IST - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on a "User-friendly information society, 1998-2002" Topic(s) 1.1.2.-6.1.1 - FET O: Open domain Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme ACM - Preparatory, accompanying and support measures Coordinator EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGEN EU contribution No data Address WILHELMSTRASSE 7 72074 TUEBINGEN Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX-PLANCK GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V. Germany EU contribution No data Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 MUENCHEN See on map Total cost No data TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET KAISERSLAUTERN Germany EU contribution No data Address GOTTLIEB-DAIMLER-STRASSE 67663 KAISERSLAUTERN See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSIDAD DE VALLADOLID Spain EU contribution No data Address PLAZA SANTA CRUZ 8 47002 VALLADOLID See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITE MONTPELLIER II France EU contribution No data Address PLACE EUGENE BATAILLON 34095 MONTPELLIER See on map Total cost No data
