Micro-mechanical analysis of dynamic processes of nanomanipulation

In this study, atomic force microscope (AFM) tips are used as tools to cut and manipulate carbon nanotubes on various surfaces. The lateral forces acting on AFM tips during manipulation are also recorded and analyzed from the perspective of micro-mechanics. It is found that differences in surface conditions can lead to obvious increase in micro-friction between nanotube and substrate. And also due to rehybridization, carbon nanotubes present excellent resilience when undergoing different degrees of strain. Finally, carbon nanotubes can complexly deform from elastic stage to plastic stage before complete rupture.     

Catalyst-free growth of amorphous silicon nanowires by laser ablation

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) appear to be ideal tip materials of atomic force microscopy (AFM) due to their small diameter and high stiffness. In this study, double-walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT) structures with different lengths of inner and outer layers are proposed as AFM tips. Both the vibration response and mode shapes of the tipped nanotubes under axial compression are studied by a theoretical nanobeam model. The results show that the natural frequencies of DWCNTs are significantly affected by the compressive loads and the length difference between the inner and outer nanotubes. The natural frequency associated with certain vibrational modes decreases with increasing compressive loads. This research may provide a useful reference for practical design for AFM tips with CNTs.     

AFM detection of the mechanical resonances of coiled carbon nanotubes

We introduce a method for atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based detection of mechanical resonances in helix-shaped multi-walled carbon nanotubes. After deposition on an oxidized silicon substrate, the three-dimensional structure of suspended nanotubes, which bridges an artificially created step on the surface, can be visualized using AFM operating in the non-contact mode. The suspended coiled nanotubes are resonantly excited, in situ, at the fundamental frequency by an ultrasonic transducer connected to the substrate. When the AFM tip is positioned above the coiled nanotube, the cantilever is unable to follow the fast nanotube oscillations. Nevertheless, an oscillation amplitude-dependent signal is generated due to the non-linear force-to-distance dependence. Measurement of the mechanical resonances of the helix-shaped carbon nanotubes can be used to quantitatively determine their elastic properties. Assuming that a coiled nanotube can be modeled as a suspended helix-shaped uniformly thin elastic beam, the obtained resonance frequency is consistent with a Young's modulus of 0.17ǂ.05 TPa.     

Actuators of individual carbon nanotubes

In this paper, actuation properties of carbon nanotubes are discussed. Samples of freestanding nanotubes on nanostructured metallic blocks have been prepared. Using a conducting AFM tip, electrons can be injected into the nanotubes. As a consequence, the nanotube expands in a similar way as buckypaper does in an electrolyte. From experimental data, the relative length change is estimated to be less than 1%. These findings are taken as a demonstration of an electromechanical actuator based on individual single walled carbon nanotubes.     

Chemical functionalization of single walled carbon nanotubes

Chemical modification has been performed on purified single walled carbon nanotubes. XPS spectrum shows that the peak corresponding to C (1s) centered at 284.38 eV in pure nanotubes (graphitic C) is 0.4 eV downshifted in chlorinated sample. Subsequent coupling reactions were carried out with diamine molecules to form intertube connections. Tripropylentetramine and phenylendiamine have been chosen as a molecular linker. End-to-side and end-to-end nanotube interconnections are formed and then observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Statistical analysis made from AFM images shows around 30% junctions in functionalized and less than 2% in pristine material. Remarkable features can be observed in the Raman spectra at different functionalization steps. Simple conductance measurements on bucky papers prepared from prestine nanotubes and from nanotubes modified at various steps have been made and are discussed.     

基于扫描电子显微镜的碳纳米管拾取操作方法研究

碳纳米管场效应管是未来纳米器件的发展方向,而制造纳米器件的前提是拾取碳纳米管,基于扫描电子显微镜(SEM)的微纳机器人操作系统能够实现碳纳米管拾取操作.本文建立拾取操作中碳纳米管与原子力显微镜(AFM)探针间范德瓦耳斯力力学模型,不同接触状态下范德瓦耳斯力越大越有利于拾取碳纳米管.在SEM视觉反馈图像中建立相对坐标系,首先提出倾角变值方法检测碳纳米管与AFM探针的接触状态,然后运用动态差值方法识别碳纳米管与AFM探针空间位姿并校正碳纳米管位姿,最后自下而上拾取碳纳米管.实验结果表明:拟合直线倾角变值较大时碳纳米管与AFM探针发生接触,动态差值变化为零时碳纳米管与AFM探针为空间线接触,在完全线接触模型下选择合适的接触角度、接触长度和拾取速度能够成功拾取碳纳米管.     

Humidity effect on the interaction between carbon nanotubes and graphite

An atomic force microscope is used to study the effect of humidity on the interaction between carbon nanotubes anchored to atomic force microscopy tips and various samples. Commercial silicon tips were also used for comparison. Adhesion force and dissipative energy were measured between these tips and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and PMMA in contact mode. The data provides a detailed understanding of carbon nanotube interactions as a function of humidity.     

Carbon nanostructures grown with electron and ion beam methods

We present a comparative study where carbon nanostructures were prepared by electron and ion beam methods. Thin films of 10×10 μm² area were prepared and analysed by Raman analysis, nanoindentation, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The material formed is not soft and graphitic, but of intermediate hardness (6–13 GPa) and with Raman spectral features similar to those of hydrogenated amorphous carbon, although it contains a significant Ga content (up to 25 at. %). This study was used to form sharp AFM supertip structures which were used to image sintered ceramic samples and films of aligned carbon nanotubes. Compared to traditional Si tips, this gave an improved rendering of the sample’s aspect ratio although the resolution is limited by the diameter of the C supertips. PACS 81.05.Uw; 81.07.-b; 78.30.-j     

SYNTHESIS AND STRUCTURE OF CARBON NANOTUBES

The distribution, morphology and structure of carbon nanotubes and buckyonions produced from an arc discharge were investigated by means of scanning electron mi-croscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, The nanotubes and nanoonions were found to be located mainly near the porous region of the core in the deposited rods and the transition region between the growth ring-shaped graphite sheets. The tube bundles grew freely from carbon particles. Apart from the straight-line tubes, curved and bent tubes were also found. Studies on the structure of them showed that the carbon atomic sheets in the nanotubes displayed a stepped bending. Transverse sectional study predicted a helical structure of the carbon atomic sheets. In addition, the relationship between the number of pentagonal rings and cone angle at the tips of the tubes, as well as the mechanism of the formation of the steplike structure, were discussed.     

Dependence of transport through carbon nanotubes on local coulomb potential

In this paper, we present the results of helium temperature transport measurements through carbon nanotubes using an AFM conductive tip as a mobile gate for creation of a local distributive Coulomb potential. In semiconducting nanotubes we observe shifting of the conductance peaks with changing of the AFM tip position. This result can be explained with a particle in the box quantum model. In high quality metallic nanotubes we observe that the local Coulomb potential does not destroy the fourfold degeneracy of the energy levels. The article is published in the original.