Marina Il’ina

By Marina V. Il’ina, Oleg I. Il’in, Vladimir A. Smirnov, Yuriy F. Blinov, Boris G. Konoplev and Oleg A. Ageev

This chapter presents the results of experimental studies of the electrical, mechanical and geometric parameters of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA CNTs) using scanning probe microscopy (SPM). This chapter also presents the features and difficulties of characterization of VA CNTs in different scanning modes of the SPM. Advanced techniques for VA CNT characterization (the height, Young’s modulus, resistivity, adhesion and piezoelectric response) taking into account the features of the SPM modes are described. The proposed techniques allow to overcome the difficulties associated with the vertical orientation and high aspect ratio of nanotubes in determining the electrical and mechanical parameters of the VA CNTs by standard methods. The results can be used in the development of diagnostic methods as well as in nanoelectronics and nanosystem devices based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (memory elements, adhesive structures, nanoelectromechanical switches, emission structures, etc.).

Part of the book: Atomic-force Microscopy and Its Applications

By Oleg I. Il’in, Marina V. Il’ina, Nikolay N. Rudyk, Alexandr A. Fedotov and Oleg A. Ageev

This chapter presents the results of experimental studies of the PECVD technological mode parameters’ influence on the formation of catalytic centers and carbon nanotubes’ (CNTs’) growth processes. This chapter also presents the ability to regulate the growth parameter for the controlled production of CNTs with the required geometric parameters, properties, and growth mechanisms. The results of experimental studies of the heating temperature and activation time effects on the catalytic center formation will be presented. This chapter also shows the effects of growth temperature, heating rate, and the activation time on the geometric and structural parameters of the carbon nanotubes. Experimental studies were carried out with the use of AFM, SEM, TEM, and EXAFS techniques. The results can be used in the development of technological processes for creating ultrafast energy-efficient electronic component base with carbon nanostructures, particularly nanoelectromechanical switches, flexo- and piezoelectric generators, gas sensors, and high-performance emitters.

Part of the book: Perspective of Carbon Nanotubes

By Vladimir A. Smirnov, Marina V. Il’ina, Vadim I. Avilov, Roman V. Tominov, Oleg I. Il’in and Oleg A. Ageev

This chapter presents the results of experimental studies of the formation and investigation of the memristors by probe nanotechnologies. This chapter also perspectives and possibilities of application of local anodic oxidation and scratching probe nanolithography for the manufacture of memristors based on titanium oxide structures, nanocrystalline ZnO thin film, and vertically aligned carbon nanotubes. Memristive properties of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, titanium oxide, and ZnO nanostructures were investigated by scanning probe microscopy methods. It is shown that nanocrystalline ZnO films manifest a stable memristor effect slightly dependent on its morphology. Titanium oxide nanoscale structures of different thicknesses obtained by local anodic oxidation demonstrate a memristive effect without the need to perform any additional electroforming operations. This experimentally confirmed the memristive switching of a two-electrode structure based on a vertically aligned carbon nanotube. These results can be used in the development of designs and technological processes of resistive random access memory (ReRAM) units based on the memristor devices.

Part of the book: Memristors