Electrical transport in bundled single-wall carbon nanotubes under high pressure

According to recent experimental data single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) exhibit a sequence of phase transitions and demonstrate a high structural stability up to 35 GPa of non-hydrostatic pressure beyond which an irreversible transformation occurs. Here we report a study of electrical transport in SWCNTs at pressures up to 45 GPa in the temperature range of 300 - 400K. High pressure was generated in diamond anvil cell. The anvils are made of electrically conducting "carbonado"-type synthetic diamond. In the pressure range 10-25 GPa the CNT electrical resistance decreases considerably, whereas above 25 GPa it remains essentially unchanged. Such behaviour of the resistance can be connected to a structural modification of the SWCNTs accompanied by change of the conductivity character at high pressure. Raman spectra of the samples recovered after 30 GPa exhibit a large increase of D/G band intensity ratio. The Radial Breathing Mode part of the spectra remains essentially unaltered which testifies for structural integrity of the nanotubes after exposure to high non-hydrostatic pressure and lack of covalent interlinking between the tubes. Pressure dependences of resistance, activation energy for conductivity and charge carriers mobility were determined and discussed.Godkänd; 2013; 20130926 (andbra