title: Mobility of carbon nanotubes in high electric fields.
abstract: The influence of electric fields on carbon nanotubes is experimentally demonstrated. Alignment of nanotubes along field lines, directed motion of nanotubes between electrodes separated by several thousand micrometers, and impressive solid-state actuation behavior of nanotube-embedded structures are demonstrated, taking into account the polarization and charging of the nanotubes. These effects are reported for long strands of nanotubes, nanotubes dispersed on substrates, and nanotube-embedded polymer strips. The relative magnitude of the field responsible for polarization and directed motion was found to be dependent on the morphology of the nanotubes used. These observations may foreshadow novel electromechanical applications for nanotube elements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koratkar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B Q
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vajtai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talapatra
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ajayan
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008422:Materials Testing; D009038:Motion; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon