Electric field-induced carbon nanotube junction formation

Abstract

We present experimental evidence of nanojunction structures explicitly observed after application of high electric fields on multiwall carbon nanotube arrays. The electric field as well as thermal effects result in carbon-carbon bond breaking and redeposition leading to nanojunction formation. The growth mechanism of the nanojunction is believed to be open-ended topological defect growth in which carbon atoms at two adjacent nanotube tips chemically react and fuse forming an array of nanojunctions. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.