Carbon SWNTs as wires and structural templates between nanoelectrodes

The adsorption of carbon SWNTs from purified aqueous dispersions on electro de patterns is described. As an alternative approach to electrically contac ted SWNTs, mixed Langmuir films consisting of surfactant molecules and SWNT s were transferred onto electrode arrays. Room temperature conductivity mea surements on both types of samples revealed a (two point) resistance in the M Omega range. From these values, the presence of a closed surfactant laye r between the tubes and electrode surface is excluded. As a step towards in creasing the functionality of SWNTs, gold particles were attached to SWNT r opes after chemical tube modification by a two-step oxidation process. Usin g this technique, lateral electrode lines (100 nm distance) can be connecte d by a chain of closely arranged nanoparticles.