Nano Express
Microwave characterisation of carbon nanotube powders
1 School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA, UK
2 School of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Birmingham, Pritchatts Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
Nanoscale Research Letters 2012, 7:429 doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-429
Published: 1 August 2012Abstract
We have used a 3-GHz microwave host cavity to study the remarkable electronic properties of metallic, single-walled carbon nanotubes. Powder samples are placed in its magnetic field antinode, which induces microwave currents without the need for electrical contacts. Samples are shown to screen effectively the microwave magnetic field, implying an extremely low value of sheet resistance (< 10 μΩ) within the graphene sheets making up the curved nanotube walls. Associated microwave losses are large due to the large surface area, and also point to a similar, very small value of sheet resistance due to the inherent ballistic electron transport.
