Determination of the intershell conductance in a multiwall carbon nanotube

Abstract

We have measured the current induced voltage drop along an individual multiwall carbon nanotube as a function of the distance to the current injecting electrode. The measurements have been performed at room temperature using scanning probe potentiometry combined with scanning electron microscopy. For a nanotube with an incomplete outer shell, a sharp potential jump was observed at the end of the outermost shell. The electric potential variation along the carbon nanotube has been used to determine the contact resistance between metal electrodes and the tube, the intrashell resistance, and the intershell conductance.