adams@phys.lsu.edu (225) 578-6847
Miscellaneous Topics
Areas of Interest
For some years now we have been investigating a variety of model low dimensional systems that can provide insights into complex correlation effects that are known to be important in many condensed matter systems of current interest. In particular, we have investigated the quantum properties of helium films, non-degenerate electrons on cryogenic hydrogen surfaces, thin film BCS superconductivity in high magnetic fields, and the metal-insulator transition in ultra-thin homogeneously disordered "metal" films. In each of these areas the goal has been to isolate the salient characteristics of what is an ostensibly well-controlled system with the ultimate goal of gaining a deeper understanding of quantum correlation effects in more widely studied materials.
Current Project
Freestanding, vertical, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are formed during the vacuum deposition of thin films of the metastable carbides CT3 (T = Ni, Co) onto fire-polished glass substrates. In contrast to widely used chemical vapor deposition techniques, we utilize direct e-beam evaporation of arc-melted CT3 targets onto room temperature substrates to produce MWCNTs that are self-assembled out of the CT3 film matrix. The upper figure on the left is a high resolution atomic force micrograph of a 5nm-thick CNi3 film. The spike-like features are MWCNT's. The lower image is a TEM micrograph of a nanotube.
Since our technique does not require the substrate to be heated, it is compatible with standard silicon photoresist patterning technologies and may provide a viable strategy for producing aligned multiwall nanotubes on fragile substrates such as organics and polymers.(read more...)