Selection of Carbon NanoTubes

 

Schematic for the selective blowing of metallic nanotubes. (A) A selection of both metallic and semiconducting nanotubes are deposited across the channel between two electrodes. (B) When a voltage is applied between the two electrodes the metallic tubes carry a large current and thus blow up, leaving behind the semiconducting tubes.

 

Optical image of nanotubes spanning across a printed source/drain channel.

 

IV curve showing the discontinuous blowing of individual carbon nanotubes. Each drop in current corresponds to 10 uA, which is the expected maximum current density for a carbon nanotube.