Effect of high pressure on the thermoelectrical properties of single-walled and double-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The effect of high pressure on the Seebeck coefficient and temperature dependences of the electrical resistance of single-wall and double-walled carbon nanotubes was studied in order to detect phase transformations occurring in carbon nanotubes in the pressure range 4–46 GPa. Diamond anvil cells with conductive synthetic diamonds were used to create high pressures. We observed a number of features associated with the structure changes of nanotubes. Temperature dependences of the electrical resistance of single and double-walled carbon nanotubes have the form characteristic of nondegenerate semiconductors. Analysis of results indicates the destruction of the structure of carbon nanotubes at high pressure.