Superconductivity in Bundles of Double-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

ORAL

Abstract

We will present electrical and thermal specific heat measurements that show superconductivity in double-wall carbon nanotube (DWCNT) bundles. Clear evidence, comprising a resistance drop as a function of temperature, magnetoresistance and differential resistance signature of the supercurrent, suggest an intrinsic superconducting transition below 6.8 K for one particular sample. Additional electrical data not only confirm the existence of superconductivity, but also indicate the Tc distribution that can arise from the diversity in the diameter and chirality of the DWCNTs. A broad superconducting anomaly is observed in the specific heat of a bulk DWCNT sample, which yields a Tc distribution that correlates well with the range of the distribution obtained from the electrical data. As quasi one dimensionality of the DWCNTs dictates the existence of electronic density of state peaks, confirmation of superconductivity in this material system opens the exciting possibility of tuning the Tc through the application of a gate voltage.

*Work supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Grants HKUST9/CRF/08, CA04/04.SC02,DSC104/05.SC01

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Authors

  • Zhe Wang

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Wu Shi

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Qiucen Zhang

    • Princeton University

  • Yuan Zheng

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Chao Ieong

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Mingquan He

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Rolf Lortz

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Yuan Cai

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Ning Wang

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Ting Zhang

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Haijing Zhang

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Zikang Tang

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Ping Sheng

    • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Hiroyuki Muramatsu

    • Shinshu University

  • Yoong Ahm Kim

    • Shinshu University

  • Morinobu Endo

    • Shinshu University

  • Paulo T. Araujo

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Mildred S. Dresselhaus

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology