Single-electron force readout of nanoparticle electrometers attached to carbon nanotubes.
We introduce a new technique of probing the local potential inside a nanostructure employing Au nanoparticles as electrometers and using single-electron force microscopy to sense the charge states of the Au electrometers, which are sensitive to local potential variations. The Au nanoelectrometers are weakly coupled to a carbon nanotube through high-impedance molecular junctions. We demonstrate the operation of the Au nanoelectrometer, determine the impedance of the molecular junctions, and measure the local potential profile in a looped nanotube.
Zhu
Jun
J
Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. jzhu@phys.psu.edu
Brink
Markus
M
McEuen
Paul L
PL