Discovery allows for connecting nanotubes in circuits
September 19, 2006 | Source: KurzweilAI
MIT researchers have identified a class of chemical molecules that preserve the metallic properties of carbon nanotubes and their near-perfect ability to conduct electricity with little resistance.
Using these molecules as handles could overcome fabrication problems and lend the nanotubes new properties for a host of potential applications as detectors, sensors or components in novel optoelectronics.
Some molecular handles can transform between a bond-intact state (left), and a bond-broken state (right), allowing the nanotubes to act like switches that can be turned on or off in the presence of certain substances or with a laser beam.
Source: MIT news