Elastic modulus of polypyrrole nanotubes
The first measurements of the tensile elastic modulus of polypyrrole nanotubes are presented. The nanotubes were mechanically tested in three points bending using atomic force microscopy. The elastic tensile modulus was deduced from force-curve measurements on different nanotubes with outer diameter ranging between 35 and 160 nm. It is shown that the elastic modulus strongly increases when the thickness or outer diameter of polypyrrole nanotubes decreases.
Cuenot
S
Unite de Chimie et de Physique des Hauts Polymeres, Universite Catholique de Louvain, place Croix du Sud, 1, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Demoustier-Champagne
S
Nysten
B