Contactless Characterization of Electronic Transport in One-Dimensional CdS Nanorods

We synthesized one-dimensional CdS nanorods (NRs), with and without Pt nanoparticle tips, as well as with and without Mn²⁺ dopants in the CdS host lattice [1]. The electronic transport properties of the as-synthesized CdS-based NRs are studied by contactless dielectric force microscopy (DFM). As revealed from DFM images, while pristine CdS NRs without both dopants and Pt tips exhibit low conductivity, the incorporations of Pt tips and/or Mn²⁺ dopants significantly improve the conductivity of CdS NRs [2] and therefore are expected to facilitate their applications where enhanced electronic transport is desirable.