Ambipolar electrical transport in semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes

Ambipolar electrical transport is reported in single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) field-effect transistors. In particular, the properties of SWNT junctions to TiC are discussed in detail. The carbide-nanotube junctions are abrupt and robust. In contrast to planar junctions, these contacts present low resistance for the injection of both p- and n-type carriers―the apparent barrier height of the junction is modified by the gate field. Thus SWNTs offer the novel possibility of ambipolar Ohmic contacts. © 2001 The American Physical Society.