Scaling law in carbon nanotube electromechanical devices.
We report a method for probing electromechanical properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This method is based on atomic force microscopy measurements on a doubly clamped suspended CNT electrostatically deflected by a gate electrode. We measure the maximum deflection as a function of the applied gate voltage. Data from different CNTs scale into an universal curve within the experimental accuracy, in agreement with a continuum model prediction. This method and the general validity of the scaling law constitute a very useful tool for designing actuators and in general conducting nanowire-based nanoelectromechanical systems.
Lefèvre
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Laboratoire d'Electronique Moléculaire, CEA-DSM SPEC, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Goffman
M F
MF
Derycke
V
V
Miko
C
C
Forró
L
L
Bourgoin
J P
JP
Hesto
P
P