Hétéro-jonctions entre nanotubes de carbone et matériaux non-carbonés – NANOCONTACTS

The project aims at generating and characterizing heterojunctions between carbon nanotubes and non-carbon contacts. Chemical vapour deposition and related techniques will be used to produce composites consisting of carbon nanotubes and other materials. These composites, e.g. nanotubes filled with metal nanowires, will be subjected to electron irradiation in an electron microscope to induce the formation of junctions between carbon nanotubes and non-carbon crystals. As recent work of the applicants shows, these junctions can be made by electron irradiation and show covalent bonding across the interface. The formation of junctions between carbon nanotubes and a variety of different materials (noble metals, light-weight metals, semiconductors, oxides, and carbides) is envisaged. Once these junctions have been made, a thorough structural and electrical characterization will be carried out to investigate the physical properties of these nanocontacts and their potential for applications in nanoelectronics and ultra-strong composite materials.