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Room-temperature transistor based on a single carbon nanotube

Author

Listed:
  • Sander J. Tans

    (Delft University of Technology, CJ Delft)

  • Alwin R. M. Verschueren

    (Delft University of Technology, CJ Delft)

  • Cees Dekker

    (Delft University of Technology, CJ Delft)

Abstract

The use of individual molecules as functional electronic devices was first proposed in the 1970s (ref. 1). Since then, molecular electronics2,3 has attracted much interest, particularly because it could lead to conceptually new miniaturization strategies in the electronics and computer industry. The realization of single-molecule devices has remained challenging, largely owing to difficulties in achieving electrical contact to individual molecules. Recent advances in nanotechnology, however, have resulted in electrical measurements on single molecules4,5,6,7. Here we report the fabrication of a field-effect transistor—a three-terminal switching device—that consists of one semiconducting8,9,10 single-wall carbon nanotube11,12 connected to two metal electrodes. By applying a voltage to a gate electrode, the nanotube can be switched from a conducting to an insulating state. We have previously reported5 similar behaviour for a metallic single-wall carbon nanotube operated at extremely low temperatures. The present device, in contrast, operates at room temperature, thereby meeting an important requirement for potential practical applications. Electrical measurements on the nanotube transistor indicate that its operation characteristics can be qualitatively described by the semiclassical band-bending models currently used for traditional semiconductor devices. The fabrication of the three-terminal switching device at the level of a single molecule represents an important step towards molecular electronics.

Suggested Citation

  • Sander J. Tans & Alwin R. M. Verschueren & Cees Dekker, 1998. "Room-temperature transistor based on a single carbon nanotube," Nature, Nature, vol. 393(6680), pages 49-52, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:393:y:1998:i:6680:d:10.1038_29954
    DOI: 10.1038/29954
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    Cited by:

    1. Vladimir S. Prudkovskiy & Yiran Hu & Kaimin Zhang & Yue Hu & Peixuan Ji & Grant Nunn & Jian Zhao & Chenqian Shi & Antonio Tejeda & David Wander & Alessandro Cecco & Clemens B. Winkelmann & Yuxuan Jian, 2022. "An epitaxial graphene platform for zero-energy edge state nanoelectronics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Shohei Horike & Qingshuo Wei & Kouki Akaike & Kazuhiro Kirihara & Masakazu Mukaida & Yasuko Koshiba & Kenji Ishida, 2022. "Bicyclic-ring base doping induces n-type conduction in carbon nanotubes with outstanding thermal stability in air," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Rebecca E. A. Gwyther & Sébastien Côté & Chang-Seuk Lee & Haosen Miao & Krithika Ramakrishnan & Matteo Palma & D. Dafydd Jones, 2024. "Optimising CNT-FET biosensor design through modelling of biomolecular electrostatic gating and its application to β-lactamase detection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Sujung Min & Hara Kang & Bumkyung Seo & JaeHak Cheong & Changhyun Roh & Sangbum Hong, 2021. "A Review of Nanomaterial Based Scintillators," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-43, November.
    5. Heinze, Thomas, 2006. "Emergence of nano S&T in Germany: network formation and company performance," Discussion Papers "Innovation Systems and Policy Analysis" 7, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    6. Kiani, Keivan, 2015. "Nanomechanical sensors based on elastically supported double-walled carbon nanotubes," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 270(C), pages 216-241.

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