Y-junction carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes with junctions are considered to be of potential value in nanoelectronics. A simple pyrolysis procedure for producing Y-junction carbon nanotubes is described. The method involves the pyrolysis of the organometallic precursor, nickelocene, along with thiophene at 1273 K. Tunneling conductance measurements showed that at the Y junction, the I-V characteristics are asymmetric with respect to zero bias as in a junction diode. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)04942-1].