title: A self-assembled synthesis of carbon nanotubes for interconnects.
abstract: We report a novel approach to grow highly oriented, freestanding and structured carbon nanotubes (CNTs) between two substrates, using microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition. Sandwiched, multi-layered catalyst structures are employed to generate such structures. The as-grown CNTs adhere well to both the substrate and the top contact, and provide a low-resistance electric contact between the two. High-resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the CNTs grow perpendicular to these surfaces. This presents a simple way to grow CNTs in different, predetermined directions in a single growth step. The overall resistance of a CNT bundle and two CNT-terminal contacts is measured to be about 14.7 k Ω. The corresponding conductance is close to the quantum limit conductance G(0). This illustrates that our new approach is promising for the direct assembly of CNT-based interconnects in integrated circuits (ICs) or other micro-electronic devices.
authors: School of Opto-electronic Information, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 4, Section 2, Jianshe North Road, 610054 Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
authors: Zexiang
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Guichuan
authors: G
authors: Cao
authors: Zulun
authors: Z
authors: Lin
authors: Irmgard
authors: I
authors: Koehler
authors: Peter K
authors: PK
authors: Bachmann