Fabrication of carbon nanotube interconnections by current-assisted laser irradiation

Abstract

In this paper, we developed a new technique to fabricate a large number of interconnections between double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT) bundles, and even between DWNT bundles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by current-assisted laser irradiation. Although most of the junctions were induced by amorphous carbon deposition, some graphitized interconnections were directly formed without any other treatments. The formation of these junctions can be considered as a result of decomposition of hydrocarbons molecules into amorphous carbon and partial transformation from amorphous carbon into graphitized structures at the contact points, under the combined energy input of both current-induced heat accumulation and laser irradiation.In this paper, we developed a new technique to fabricate a large number of interconnections between double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT) bundles, and even between DWNT bundles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by current-assisted laser irradiation. Although most of the junctions were induced by amorphous carbon deposition, some graphitized interconnections were directly formed without any other treatments. The formation of these junctions can be considered as a result of decomposition of hydrocarbons molecules into amorphous carbon and partial transformation from amorphous carbon into graphitized structures at the contact points, under the combined energy input of both current-induced heat accumulation and laser irradiation.