We introduce a new technique of probing the local potential inside a nanostructure employing Au nanoparticles as electrometers and using single-electron force microscopy to sense the charge states of the Au electrometers, which are sensitive to local potential variations. The Au nanoelectrometers are weakly coupled to a carbon nanotube through high-Impedance molecular junctions. We demonstrate the operation of the Au nanoelectrometer, determine the impedance of the molecular junctions, and measure the local potential profile in a looped nanotube. © 2008 American Chemical Society.

We carried out measurements on nanoelectromechanical systems based on multilayer graphene sheets suspended over trenches in silicon oxide. The motion of the suspended sheets was electrostatically driven at resonance using applied radio frequency voltages. The mechanical vibrations were detected using a novel form of scanning probe microscopy, which allowed identification and spatial imaging of the shape of the mechanical eigenmodes.

Understanding the physics of low-dimensional systems and the operation of next-generation electronics will depend on our ability to measure the electrical properties of nanomaterials at terahertz frequencies (∼100 GHz to 10 THz). Single-walled carbon nanotubes are prototypical one-dimensional nanomaterials because of their unique band structure and long carrier mean free path. Although nanotube transistors have been studied at microwave frequencies (100 MHz to 50 GHz), no techniques currently exist to probe their terahertz response.

Electrons in atoms possess both spin and orbital degrees of freedom. In non-relativistic quantum mechanics, these are independent, resulting in large degeneracies in atomic spectra. However, relativistic effects couple the spin and orbital motion, leading to the well-known fine structure in their spectra. The electronic states in defect-free carbon nanotubes are widely believed to be four-fold degenerate, owing to independent spin and orbital symmetries, and also to possess electron-hole symmetry.

We review recent progress in the measurement and understanding of the electrical properties of individual metal and semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes. The fundamental scattering mechanisms governing the electrical transport in nanotubes are discussed, along with the properties of p-n and Schottky-barrier junctions in semiconductor tubes. The use of advanced nanotube devices for electronic, high-frequency, and electromechanical applications is discussed.

Using an atomic force microscope, we measured effective spring constants of stacks of graphene sheets (less than 5) suspended over photolithographically defined trenches in silicon dioxide. Measurements were made on layered graphene sheets of thicknesses between 2 and 8 nm, with measured spring constants scaling as expected with the dimensions of the suspended section, ranging from 1 to 5 Nm.