Determination of the Intershell Conductance in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

We report on the intershell electron transport in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). To do this, local and nonlocal four-point measurements are used to study the current path through the different shells of a MWNT. For short electrode separations $\lesssim 1\mu \mathrm{m}$ the current mainly flows through the two outer shells, described by a resistive transmission line with an intershell conductance per length of $\sim (10\mathrm{k}\Omega {)}^{-1}/\mu \mathrm{m}$. The intershell transport is tunnel type and the transmission is consistent with the estimate based on the overlap between $\pi$ orbitals of neighboring shells.