title: Nanomechanics of carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Some of the most important potential applications of carbon nanotubes are related to their mechanical properties. Stiff sp2 bonds result in a Young's modulus close to that of diamond, while the relatively weak van der Waals interaction between the graphitic shells acts as a form of lubrication. Previous characterization of the mechanical properties of nanotubes includes a rich variety of experiments involving mechanical deformation of nanotubes using scanning probe microscopes. These results have led to promising prototypes of nanoelectromechanical devices such as high-performance nanomotors, switches and oscillators based on carbon nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. andras.kis@epfl.ch
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kis
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zettl
mesh_terms: D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D006245:Hardness Tests; D008422:Materials Testing; D008958:Models, Molecular; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D018130:Diamond