title: Heterojunctions between metals and carbon nanotubes as ultimate nanocontacts.
abstract: We report the controlled formation and characterization of heterojunctions between carbon nanotubes and different metal nanocrystals (Fe, Co, Ni, and FeCo). The heterojunctions are formed from metal-filled multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) via intense electron beam irradiation at temperatures in the range of 450-700 degrees C and observed in situ in a transmission electron microscope. Under irradiation, the segregation of metal and carbon atoms occurs, leading to the formation of heterojunctions between metal and graphite. Metallic conductivity of the metal-nanotube junctions was found by using in situ transport measurements in an electron microscope. Density functional calculations show that these structures are mechanically strong, the bonding at the interface is covalent, and the electronic states at and around the Fermi level are delocalized across the entire system. These properties are essential for the application of such heterojunctions as contacts in electronic devices and vital for the fabrication of robust nanotube-metal composite materials.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7504, Université de Strasbourg, 23 Rue du Loess, 67034 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Manzo
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banhart
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terrones
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terrones
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grobert
authors.forename: Pulickel M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan
authors.forename: Bobby G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sumpter
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: Mingsheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Dmitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Golberg