We propose and demonstrate a technique to form an ultrasmall island for a single-electron transistor in a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT). The two small areas in the MWNT connected to electrodes were etched in oxygen plasma, resulting in the cutting of the MWNT into three pieces. An island and two leads connected the island through the tunneling barriers were made of the MWNT. In this device, we observed the Coulomb blockade effect at 4.5 K, and the estimated charging energy was 38 meV. This result is an essential step for the use of carbon nanotubes in nanoscale electronics circuits.

1.
S.
Iijima
,
Nature (London)
354
,
56
(
1991
).
Google Scholar
 
2.
M.
Ahlskog
,
R.
Tarkiainen
,
L.
Roschier
, and
P.
Hakonen
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
77
,
4037
(
2000
).
Google Scholar
 
3.
A.
Kanda
,
K.
Tsukagoshi
,
Y.
Ootsuka
, and
Y.
Aoyagi
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
79
,
1354
(
2001
).
Google Scholar
 
4.
R.
Martel
,
T.
Schmidt
,
H. R.
Shea
,
T.
Hertel
, and
Ph.
Avouris
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
73
,
2447
(
1998
).
Google Scholar
 
5.
D. T.
Colbert
,
J.
Zhang
,
S. M.
McClure
,
P.
Nikolaev
,
Z.
Chen
,
J. H.
Hafner
,
D. W.
Owens
,
P. G.
Kotula
,
C. B.
Carter
,
J. H.
Weaver
,
A. G.
Rinzler
, and
R. E.
Smalley
,
Science
266
,
1218
(
1994
).
Google Scholar
 
6.
K.
Tsukagoshi
,
B. W.
Alphenaar
, and
H.
Ago
,
Nature (London)
401
,
572
(
1999
).
Google Scholar
 
7.
A.
Zahab
,
L.
Spina
,
P.
Poncharal
,
C.
Marlière
,
Phys. Rev. B
62
,
10000
(
2000
).
Google Scholar
 
8.
P. G.
Collins
,
K.
Bradley
,
M.
Ishigami
, and
A.
Zettl
,
Science
287
,
1801
(
2000
).
Google Scholar
 
9.
S. J.
Tans
,
M. H.
Devoret
,
H.
Dai
,
A.
Thess
,
R. E.
Smalley
,
L. J.
Geerligs
, and
C.
Dekker
,
Nature (London)
386
,
474
(
1997
).
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2001 American Institute of Physics.
2001
American Institute of Physics
You do not currently have access to this content.