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Science 2 December 2005:
Vol. 310. no. 5753, pp. 1480 - 1483
DOI: 10.1126/science.1120385
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Reports

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.

Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: collier{at}caltech.edu (C.P.C.); giapis{at}cheme.caltech.edu (K.P.G.)

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)