Covered conduction of individual C(60) nanowhiskers

Nanotechnology. 2008 Feb 20;19(7):075712. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/19/7/075712. Epub 2008 Jan 31.

Abstract

We investigate the electronic properties of individual C(60) nanowhiskers by exploiting conductive atomic force microscopy at room temperature in ambient atmosphere. The pristine individual C(60) nanowhiskers exhibit conducting behavior. The outer C(60) oxide covering, confirmed by Auger electron spectroscopy, shelters the conductive properties of the C(60) nanowhiskers. It is proposed that the insulating outer C(60) oxide covering might be used as the dielectric layer in potential single C(60) nanowhisker-based field-effect transistors for nanoelectronics.