Single wall carbon nanotubes and their electrical properties

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized and purified. A wate r colloid of SWCNTs was prepared and used to assemble SWCNTs onto a gold fi lm surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images showed that short SW CNTs stood on gold film surfaces. Using STM tips made of SWCNTs, a crystal grain image of a gold thin film and an atomic resolution image of highly or iented pyrolytic graphite were successfully obtained. The electrical proper ties of short SWCNTs, which stood on the surface of gold film, were measure d using STM. That SWCNTs stand on gold thin films is a promising technique for studying structures and properties of carbon nanotubes, as well as asse mbling and fabricating high-intensity coherent electron sources, field emis sion flat panel display, tips for scanning probe microscopes, new nanoelect ronic devices, etc.