Heterogeneous TiO/VO/Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Vanadium pentoxide (VO) is proposed and investigated as a cathode material for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. However, the dissolution of VO during the charge/discharge remains as an issue at the VO-electrolyte interface. In this work, we present a heterogeneous nanostructure with carbon nanotubes supported VO/titanium dioxide (TiO) multilayers as electrodes for thin-film Li-ion batteries.

Nanostructured TiO2/carbon nanosheet hybrid electrode for high-rate thin-film lithium-ion batteries.

Heterogeneous nanostructured electrodes using carbon nanosheets (CNS) and TiO2 exhibit high electronic and ionic conductivity. In order to realize the chip level power sources, it is necessary to employ microelectronic compatible techniques for the fabrication and characterization of TiO2-CNS thin-film electrodes. To achieve this, vertically standing CNS grown through a catalytic free approach on a TiN/SiO2/Si substrate by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) was used.

Synthesis of a 3D network of Pt nanowires by atomic layer deposition on a carbonaceous template.

The formation of a 3D network composed of free standing and interconnected Pt nanowires is achieved by a two-step method, consisting of conformal deposition of Pt by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on a forest of carbon nanotubes and subsequent removal of the carbonaceous template. Detailed characterization of this novel 3D nanostructure was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The characterization showed that this pure 3D nanostructure of platinum is self-supported and offers an enhancement of the electrochemically active surface area by a factor of 50.

Atomic layer deposition of high-k dielectrics on single-walled carbon nanotubes: a Raman study.

Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have great potential to become the channel material for future high-speed transistor technology. However, to realize a carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNTFET) with excellent gate control, the high-k dielectrics between the CNT and the metal gate must have superb electrical properties and extremely high uniformity. Thus it is essential to understand the interactions between high-k materials and the SWCNTs to effectively control the transistor characteristics.

Bottom-up SiO2 embedded carbon nanotube electrodes with superior performance for integration in implantable neural microsystems.

The reliable integration of carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes in future neural probes requires a proper embedding of the CNTs to prevent damage and toxic contamination during fabrication and also to preserve their mechanical integrity during implantation. Here we describe a novel bottom-up embedding approach where the CNT microelectrodes are encased in SiO(2) and Parylene C with lithographically defined electrode openings. Vertically aligned CNTs are grown on microelectrode arrays using low-temperature plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition compatible with wafer-scale CMOS processing.

Measuring the electrical resistivity and contact resistance of vertical carbon nanotube bundles for application as interconnects.

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are known to be materials with potential for manufacturing sub-20 nm high aspect ratio vertical interconnects in future microchips. In order to be successful with respect to contending against established tungsten or copper based interconnects, though, CNT must fulfil their promise of also providing low electrical resistance in integrated structures using scalable integration processes fully compatible with silicon technology. Hence, carefully engineered growth and integration solutions are required before we can fully exploit their potentialities.

Growth and characterization of horizontally suspended CNTs across TiN electrode gaps.

A technique is proposed to grow horizontal carbon nanotubes (CNTs) bridging metal electrodes and to assess their electrical properties. A test structure was utilized that allows for selective electrochemical sidewall catalyst placement. The selectivity of the technique is based on the connection of the desired metal electrodes to the silicon substrate where the potential for electrochemical deposition was applied.

Preparation of oriented mesoporous carbon nano-filaments within the pores of anodic alumina membranes.

Oriented mesoporous carbon nano-filaments were prepared as replicas of Fe-containing silica mesostructures deposited inside the channels of anodic alumina membranes (AAMs). Due to the confinement imposed by the channels of the AAMs, rather unusual mesophase structures showing "circular" or "columnar" mesoscopic channels were formed that were replicated as pure carbon analogues after removal of the templating hosts. These structures are assembled in the forms of macroscopic membranes and are hierarchically ordered first due to the arrangement of the channels of the AAMs and second due to the mesophase counterparts.