Thermoelectric measurement of multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles by using nano-probes.

We report here a method for measurement of thermoelectric power of quasi-one dimensional nano-materials with a simple platform, where individual nanomaterial is assembled with nano-probes in a scanning electron microscope. This approach allows repeated manipulation and thermoelectric measurement of the same loaded nanosample with adjustable number of individual nanotubes or nanowires. It also allows assembly of multiple samples on one measurement stage. For multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles, we have observed a weak trend that, when the number of individual tubes in a bundle varies from ten millions to around a hundred thousand, the thermoelectric power almost remains at around 10 microV/K. When the tube number in the bundle is further reduced, the up-limit of the thermoelectric power gradually increases to a value near 20 microV/K.

Light coupling and modulation in coupled nanowire ring-Fabry-Pérot cavity.

CdS nanowire (NW) ring cavities were fabricated and studied for the first time. The rings with radii from 2.1 to 5.9 microm were fabricated by a nanoprobe system installed in a scanning electron microscope. Radius dependent whispering gallery modes (WGMs) were observed. A straight CdS NW with Fabry-Pérot (F-P) cavity structure was fabricated and placed by the side of a NW ring cavity to form a coupled ring-F-P cavity. When the NW ring was excited by a focused laser, a bright green light spot was observed at the output end of the straight NW, indicating that the latter had served as an effect waveguide to couple the light out from the ring cavity. The corresponding light spectrum showed that the WGMs had been modulated. We confirmed that the NW F-P cavity had served as a modulator. Such a coupled cavity has potential application in a nanophotonic system.

Controlling electron-beam-induced carbon deposition on carbon nanotubes by Joule heating.

Electron-beam-induced deposition (EBID) of carbon on the surface of carbon nanotubes was well controlled by passing different electrical currents through the nanotubes. The control is due to Joule heating and the temperature of the carbon nanotubes was estimated. The deposition rate was found to increase and then decrease with the temperature and was maximized at about 310 K and approached zero at about 400 K. The method can be used to control the deposition rate of EBID in nanowelding and nanofabrication and to eliminate amorphous carbon contamination in in situ study of nanostructures.