Electron beam induced current measurements on single-walled carbon nanotubedevices

Abstract

We report on electron beam induced current (EBIC) from individual carbon nanotubes(CNTs) which are in contact with metal electrodes. The EBIC signals originate from thediffusion of excess carriers induced by the electron beam bombardment. The EBIC imageenables us to locate the individual CNTs efficiently. From the polarity of the EBIC signalswe can identify the electrical contacts to the metal electrodes. More importantly, wedemonstrate that the EBIC can be used to characterize the local electrical properties ofCNT-based devices, such as asymmetry in metal contacts and the presence of defects.EBIC is also observed regardless of the presence of insulating surfaces, indicating that theEBIC is a result of the direct interaction between the CNTs and the electron beams.