title: Robust Ohmic contact junctions between metallic tips and multiwalled carbon nanotubes for scanned probe microscopy.
abstract: We demonstrate a simple method that uses a scanning electron microscope for making a reliable low resistance contact between a single multiwalled carbon nanotube and a metallic tungsten probe tip or a Si cantilever. This method consists of using electron beam induced decomposition of background gases and voltage pulses to remove contaminants. The electrical quality of the contact is monitored in situ by measuring the current flow at constant bias or by observing the decay of current fluctuations. The quality of the contacts is confirmed via current-voltage spectroscopy. This method produces very stable, low resistance, mechanically robust contacts with high success rates approaching 100%.
authors.affiliation: Texas Materials Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Suenne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Morgann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Lozanne