A nano-indentation study of the contact resistance and resistivity of a bi-layered Au/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite

作者：Down M P^*; Lewis A P; Jiang L; McBride J W

来源：Applied Physics Letters, 2015, 106(10): 101911.

DOI：10.1063/1.4915310

A bi-layer metal-carbon nanotube composite has been developed as a potential low-force electrical contact surface, for application in micro-electromechanical systems switching devices. The samples consist of a vertically aligned forest of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), sputter coated with a layer of Au. The effect of varying the components and composition are investigated by means of a modified nano-indenter. By measuring the contact resistance of the composites under various loading conditions, the electrical properties and performance can be evaluated. The composites are shown to have homogenous properties, with each of the layers influencing the total electrical characteristics of the samples. The internal structure of the sample, the MWCNT height and penetration of gold into the forest is shown to directly influence the performance and characteristics of the samples. By analyzing the samples as bulk, the effective resistivities of the composites are also determined to have values from 303 n Omega m down to 54 n Omega m, depending on the composition of the samples.

• 出版日期2015-3-9