Sustained mechanical self-oscillations in carbon nanotubes

Jeffrey A Weldon; Benjamin Alemán; Allen Sussman; William Gannett; Alex K Zettl

doi:10.1021/nl100148q

Sustained mechanical self-oscillations in carbon nanotubes

Nano Lett. 2010 May 12;10(5):1728-33. doi: 10.1021/nl100148q.

Authors

Jeffrey A Weldon¹, Benjamin Alemán, Allen Sussman, William Gannett, Alex K Zettl

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physics and Center of Integrated Nanomechanical Systems, University of California at Berkeley, and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

PMID: 20411990
DOI: 10.1021/nl100148q

Abstract

The potential size and power benefits of resonant NEMS devices are frequently mitigated by the need for relatively large, high-frequency, high-power electronics. Here we demonstrate controllable, sustained self-oscillations in singly clamped carbon nanotubes operating with a single dc voltage supply, and we develop a model that predicts the required voltage on the basis of the material properties and device geometry. Using this model, we demonstrate for the first time top-down, self-oscillating NEMS devices suitable for large-scale integration.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Computer Simulation
Elastic Modulus
Materials Testing
Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / methods*
Models, Chemical*
Nanotechnology / methods*
Nanotubes / chemistry*
Nanotubes / ultrastructure
Oscillometry / methods*
Particle Size
Stress, Mechanical
Vibration