Electrowetting in Carbon Nanotubes
J. Y. Chen,
A. Kutana,
C. P. Collier,*
K. P. Giapis*
We demonstrate reversible wetting and filling of open single-wall
carbon nanotubes with mercury by means of electrocapillary pressure
originating from the application of a potential across an individual
nanotube in contact with a mercury drop. Wetting improves the
conductance in both metallic and semiconducting nanotube probes
by decreasing contact resistance and forming a mercury nanowire
inside the nanotube. Molecular dynamics simulations corroborate
the electrocapillarity-driven filling process and provide estimates
for the imbibition speed and electrocapillary pressure.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: collier{at}caltech.edu (C.P.C.); giapis{at}cheme.caltech.edu (K.P.G.)
