Thermo-electrical characterization of pyrolyzed polyfurfuryl alcohol nanowires

We present experimental results on the electrical characteristics of carbonaceous nanowires using micro-fabricated two point electrodes. The nanowires (diameter varying from 150 nm to 250 nm, and tens of microns in length) are synthesized by the pyrolysis of polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) nanowire precursors. The microstructure of the pyrolyzed nanowire shows predominantly amorphous carbon structure with an increasing degree of graphitization reported in literature at higher pyrolysis temperatures. The effect of the nanowire surface temperature on its resistivity is also characterized. We observe temperature dependence in resistivity and decreasing resistance with increasing temperature which is evidence of semiconducting nature of these carbonaceous nanowires.