Hysteretic transfer characteristics of double-walled and single-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistors

Abstract

In both double-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (DWCNT-FETs) and single-walled carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (SWCNT-FETs), “clockwise” hysteretic transfer characteristics are observed. These characteristics can be attributed to mobile ions or charged clusters in surfactant layers around the tube channels. Compared with SWCNT-FETs, more significant surfactant influences on the transfer characteristics are observed in DWCNT-FETs due to superior surfactant adsorption properties of double-walled carbon nanotubes. Our findings suggest that not only water molecules but also the surfactants play critical roles in dominating the hystereses, especially when the carbon nanotubes are double walled.