Carbon nanotube linear bearing nanoswitches.
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.
Deshpande
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Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Chiu
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HY
Postma
H W Ch
HW
Mikó
C
C
Forró
L
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Bockrath
M
M
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*
D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon