University of Oregon chemists provide a detailed view of
traps that disrupt energy flow, possibly pointing toward improved
charge-carrying devices
University of Oregon chemists have devised a way to see the
internal structures of electronic waves trapped in carbon nanotubes by external
electrostatic charges.
Carbon nanotubes have been touted as exceptional materials
with unique properties that allow for extremely efficient charge and energy
transport, with the potential to open the way for new, more efficient types of
electronic and photovoltaic devices. However, these traps, or defects, in
ultra-thin nanotubes can compromise their effectiveness.