Multiscale computational modeling of size effects in carbon nanotube-polymer composites

The development of carbon nanotube(CNT)-polymer composites advocates for a better understanding of their physical and mechanical properties that depend on the diameter of the embedded CNTs. Given that the experimental assessment of size effects is extremely difficult, the use of numerical models can be enormously helpful. However, since size...

Multi-Scale Material and Technology for Heterogeneous Integration

This thesis describes a series of experiments and fabrication methods on high-aspect-ratio 3D microstructures for wafer level packaging and 3D heterogeneous system integration (3D-HSI) using novel materials such as carbon nanotubes and thick-film photo-resists. Furthermore, theoretical and experimental research efforts are made to understand the...

Photocurrent in Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon Nanotubes as Vertical Interconnects in 3D Integrated Circuits

Interconnects in integrated circuits (IC) are the major cause of power dissipation and delay. 3D integration has been proposed as a method to reduce these issues. For this 3D integration, fabrication of high aspect ratio reliable vertical interconnects (vias) are required. For this new materials, like carbon nanotubes (CNT), are being considered...

Carbon nanotubes as electromechanical resonators: Single-electron tunneling, nonlinearity, and high-bandwidth readout

A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a remarkable material and can be thought of as a single-atom thick cylinder of carbon atoms capped of with a semisphere. This is called a single-walled CNT and, depending on how the cylinder is rolled up, CNTs are either semiconducting or metallic. A CNT is made into a mechanical resonator by suspending it between two...

Josephson effects in carbon nanotube mechanical resonators and graphene

Single electron-ics with carbon nanotubes

We experimentally investigate Quantum Dots, formed in Carbon Nanotubes. The first part of this thesis deals with charge sensing on such quantum dots. The charge sensor is a metallic Single-electron-transistor, sensitive to the charge of a single electron on the quantum dot. We use this technique for real-time charge readout and precise tuning of...

Structural and functional studies of the iron storage protein ferritin from Pyrococcus furiosus

This research focuses on the iron storage protein ferritin. Ferritin is a protein involved in iron homeostasis by storing Fe(II) excess in the form of an Fe(III) mineral core in the presence of oxygen and by releasing iron during iron deficiency. Ferritins are vital for human health. Their malfunction may lead among other diseases to anemia,...

Quantum transport in carbon nanotubes

Electronic transport through nanostructures can be very different from trans- port in macroscopic conductors, especially at low temperatures. Carbon na- notubes are tiny cylinders made of carbon atoms. Their remarkable electronic and mechanical properties, together with their small size (a few nm in diameter), make them very attractive for...

Spatially resolved spectroscopy on carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes are small cylindrical molecules with a typical diameter of 1 nm and lengths of up to micrometers. These intriguing molecules exhibit, depending on the exact atomic structure, either semiconducting or metallic behavior. This makes them ideal candidates for possible future molecular electronics. In this thesis Janssen describes...

Carbon nanotube junctions and devices

In this thesis Postma presents transport experiments performed on individual single-wall carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes are molecules entirely made of carbon atoms. The electronic properties are determined by the exact symmetry of the nanotube lattice, resulting in either metallic or semiconducting behaviour. Due to their small diameter,...