The so-called quasi-one-dimensional structures (quantum wires) can be used for constructing nanoelectronic devices. The two-stage technology is customarily used: first, the traditional microelectronic technology does its utmost, and then some appropriate method is used to form quantum wires on the surface of the resulting array chips. In particular, planar quasi-one-dimensional microcontacts are formed in the atomic force microscope by applying the local anodic oxidation of titanium stripes. Current-voltage characteristics of such contacts can be rather different [1]. However, the transverse quantum levels of the current carrier energy are dithered since the surface of a quasi-one-dimensional conductor is rough.

Conducting carbon nanotubes are promising as quasi-one-dimensional wires. Since the surface of nanotubes is usually smooth, the effects due to the roughness of the surface can be neglected.

The objective of our experiments was to construct planar two-electrode nonlinear devices on carbon nanotubes that would have the highest available conductivity and could carry high currents.

Carbon nanotubes were manufactured from the mix obtained by cold destruction of the natural graphite [2]. This method is rather efficient, since the resulting carbon has frame structure including nanostructures. Carbon nanotubes were doped with platinum, platinum-palladium, and nickel.

It is shown that branching carbon nanotubes that were recently observed and reported in [3] have the form of a symmetric fork when doped with metal atoms and thus are very promising for development of nanoelectronic elements. The current-voltage characteristics of the carbon nanotubes connecting gold electrodes have two flat segments corresponding to the currents of 0.15 and 0.8 ľA. Hysteresis is observed for currents larger than 50 nA as the voltage is varied in opposite directions. It can be explained by the heating of the contacts between the nanotubes and the gold electrodes.

Thus, it is shown that carbon tubes can be doped with metal atoms so as to carry microampere currents. Such structures can be used as high-current devices in the discrete nanoelectronics. However, the problem of connecting nanotubes with the supplying electrodes remains to be solved.

1. Bobrinetskii I.I., Nevolin V.K., Korneev N.V. Differential Conductance of Planar Microcontacts Formed by a Conductive Probe. Phys. Low-Dim. Struct. 3 /4 (2001) pp. 183-188.
2. Russian Federation Patent No. 2128624. A method and device for preparation of a highly reactive carbon mixture / V.I. Petrik (priority 17.10.97).
3. Bobrinetskii I.I., Nevolin V.K., V.I. Petrik Branching nanotubes manufactured from a highly reactive carbon mixture. Izvestiya VUZov. Elektronika. 2002. ? 2. pp.105-106.