Short-channel effects in contact-passivated nanotube chemical sensors

We report a design for carbon nanotube field-effect transistors which tests the nanotube depletion length. In this design, the metal contacts and adjacent nanotubes were coated with impermeable silicon oxide, while the central region of nanotubes was exposed. We tested the devices by measuring sensitivity to NH3 and poly(ethylene imine). NH3 caused similar responses in passivated devices and in normal, nonpassivated devices. Thus, the device design passivates the metal-nanotube contacts while preserving chemical sensor characteristics. Poly(ethylene imine) produced negative threshold shifts of tens of volts, despite being in contact with only the center region of devices. Based on the observed device characteristics, we conclude that the length scale of the covered nanotubes in our structure is comparable to the decay length of the depletion charge in nanotube transistors. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.