title: Carbon nanotube linear bearing nanoswitches.
abstract: We exploit the remarkable low-friction bearing capabilities of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to realize nanoelectromechanical switches. Our switches consist of two open-ended MWNT segments separated by a nanometer-scale gap. Switching occurs through electrostatically actuated sliding of the inner nanotube shells to close the gap, producing a conducting ON state. For double-walled nanotubes in particular, a gate voltage can restore the insulating OFF state. Acting as a nonvolatile memory element capable of several switching cycles, our devices are straightforward to implement, self-aligned, and do not require complex fabrication or geometries, allowing for convenient scalability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: H W Ch
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mikó
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forró
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bockrath
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004581:Electronics; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017276:Friction; D016014:Linear Models; D008839:Microelectrodes; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon