Lee et al. have reported the synthesis of nanotubes decorated with gold nanoparticles also by using AAO templates [49]. In this report, they have first prepared the AuNPs inside the AAO pores by impregnation of a gold dissolution and a thermal treatment. Then, they impregnate the Au-loaded AAO membrane with sucrose and subsequently a carbonization process was done in order to selleck chemical obtain bamboo-like carbon nanotubes filled with AuNPs. Their results

show a scarce homogeneity in the physical distribution along the tube with a relatively wide particle size distribution. In order to corroborate the presence of gold in these hybrid structures, we have performed energy dispersive X-ray analysis with a 200-kV electron beam. Figure 4 shows typical EDS spectra for the samples prepared by dip-coating Figure 4a and drop-casting Figure 4b. Also, this figure displays tables with the weight and atomic percentage (%) for carbon and gold atoms in the hybrid samples. Even though the EDS analysis is a semi-quantitative method, it provides a clear confirmation that gold has been incorporated to the CNTs. Since the EDS signal from small nanoparticles is very low, the detection Metformin price time for these NPs was increased; this explains the emergence of a copper signal, probably from the copper grid used to support the samples. Other elements such as iron and cobalt (due to

TEM sample holders) have also been detected. Figure 4 EDS analysis of the hybrid nanostructures prepared by (a) dip-coating and (b) drop-casting. To explore the electronic transport mechanisms and properties of these hybrid nanostructures, after being released, they were deposited on IME chips. Figure 5a shows an optical image of the IME chip. Figure 5b,c shows a typical SEM image of an IME chip with CNTs. In all the samples considered in this study, the CNTs and Au-CNTs hybrids were randomly oriented on the surface, forming a network of tubes between the

electrodes. Figure 5 Images of the IME chip and Au-CNT samples deposited over IME chip. (a) Optical image of the IME chip. (b, c) Representative SEM images of Au-CNT samples deposited over IME chip. The first electrical measurement was oriented to obtain the temperature dependence of the sample conductance (G), at zero bias Cyclooxygenase (COX) voltage, in high vacuum conditions, from 10 to 300 K. The conductance as a function of temperature for sample CNTs_(AAO/650°C), Au-CNTs-A, and Au-CNTs-B exhibit a non-metallic temperature dependence. Their conductivity can be explained using the variable range hopping (VRH) model in which charge carriers move by phonon-assisted hopping between localized states [50]. Therefore, the conductance at zero electric field can be obtained by Mott’s law [51] as follows: (1) where d is the dimensionality and T 0  = α 3 /k B n(E f) (the characteristic activation temperature).