Scattering strength of potassium on a carbon nanotube with known chirality

Ryuichi Tsuchikawa, D. Heligman, B. T. Blue, Z. Y. Zhang, A. Ahmadi, E. R. Mucciolo, J. Hone, and M. Ishigami

Phys. Rev. B 94, 045408 – Published 7 July 2016

Abstract

We have measured the scattering strength of charged impurities on a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube with known chirality. The resistivity of the nanotube is measured as a function of the density of adsorbed potassium atoms, enabling the determination of the resistance added by an individual potassium atom. Holes are scattered 37 times more efficiently than electrons by an adsorbed potassium atom. The determined scattering strength is used to reveal the spatial extent and depth of the scattering potential for potassium, a model Coulomb adsorbate. Our result represents an essential experimental input to understand adsorbate-induced scattering and provides a crucial step for paving the way to rational design of nanotube-based sensors.

Received 14 April 2015
Revised 20 April 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.94.045408

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Adsorption Electrical conductivity

Carbon-based materials Nanotubes

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Ryuichi Tsuchikawa^1,2, D. Heligman^1,2, B. T. Blue^1,2, Z. Y. Zhang³, A. Ahmadi¹, E. R. Mucciolo¹, J. Hone³, and M. Ishigami^1,2

¹Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
²Nanoscience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA
³Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA

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Vol. 94, Iss. 4 — 15 July 2016

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