Single walled carbon nanotubes films: Strong electric field induced nonlinear effects in electrical conductivity

Strong electric field induced nonlinear effects in electrical conductivity of single wall carbon nanotube films are demonstrated. The increase of electric conductivity with increase of external electric field strength (up to 200 kV/cm) was attributed to the tunneling between the conducting paths of metallic SWCNT and hoping in one dimensional metallic constituents in carbon nanotube compound, whilst its decrease is related to reduction of tunneling probability within certain percolation paths. Hysteresis behaviour observed in the current-voltage characteristics using nanosecond pulsed characterization is attributed to levels in carbon nanotubes-sodium dodecylsulfate interface.