Broadband electrical characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and contacts

The electrical response of an individual multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) and its contacts, welded to a coplanar waveguide (CPW), was measured up to 24 GHz using a technique that removes environment effects. This is the first time MWNT contact effects have been systematically isolated from the CPW. Each contact response was quite different and also showed a pronounced sensitivity to ambient light. Adding more contact material clearly changed the high-frequency electrical response and the sensitivity to light.