Research
Attachment of inorganic nanoparticles to carbon nanotubes
Novel applications in nanotechnology rely on the design of tailored nano-architectures. For this purpose, carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles are intensively investigated. We study the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles by means of colloidal synthesis and their attachment to carbon nanotubes. We investigate the chemical and electronic properties of such composite structures, since they are potentially interesting for applications in photodetectors, solar cells, and fuel cells.
Electrical transport through individual nanostructures
We synthesize inorganic nanostructures by colloidal synthesis or chemical vapor deposition. For example, needle-shaped nanostructures composed of an In head and an InP tail with lengths up to several micrometers were generated in a one-pot synthesis. Owing to their specific design such In/InP nanoneedles suit the use as ready-made Schottky transistors. Furthermore, we investigate the modification of the electronic properties of carbon nanotube based transistors.
Electrical transport through thin films of nanoparticles
Different techniques such as Langmuir-Blogett and spin-coating are used and optimized in order to deposit thin films of monodisperse nanoparticles on electrode structures defined by electron-beam lithography. We can generate mono- or multi-layer films using metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles. In order to characterize such films we perform electrical transport measurements. They usually show nonlinear characteristics depending on the temperature. Such films can be used as chemical sensors or for cheap electronic devices.
Carbon nanotube electronics
We are investigating the electronic transport in carbon nanotubes field effect transistors and the influence of organic and inorganic adsorbates. On the one hand such adsorbates could be tailored tetrathiafulvalene derivatives which attach to the nanotube in a pincer-like fashion. On the other hand we investigate the charge transfer upon adsorption of inorganic nanoparticles. Those structures are interesting with regard to sensors and solar cells.
Colloidal synthesis of nanoparticles
