Probing Mechanical Resonances in Cantilevered Coiled Carbon Nanowires

ORAL

Abstract

Helically coiled carbon nanowires (CCNW) and nanotubes are promising elements for use in MEMS/NEMS devices and nanorobotics, as nano-inductors and sensors, and for impact protection (e.g. Bell \textit{et al.} 2007 IEEE International Conference, J. Appl. Phys. \textbf{100}, 064309 (2006)). Understanding and characterizing their mechanical resonance behavior is essential for the reliability in applications. In this study, we have electrically actuated an individual CCNW in a diving-board cantilever configuration inside a scanning electron microscope, and electrically detected its mechanical resonance modes. By oscillation at low frequency we confirmed the induced-charge actuation mechanism. Among the modes we observed, some appeared to have both axial and lateral components. We also observed closely spaced resonance modes which we attribute to the splitting of degenerate modes, consistent with our COMSOL simulations. We suggest that the helical morphology facilitates inter-mode coupling that results in the observed complex resonance behavior.

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Authors

  • Deepika Saini

    Clemson University

  • Doyl Dickel

    Clemson University, Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials, Freiburg, Germany

  • Herbert Behlow

    Clemson University

  • Balu Pillai

    Clemson University

  • Keqin Yang

    Clemson University

  • Malcolm Skove

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Clemson University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634

  • Steve Serkiz

    Savannah River National Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC USA 29808

  • Apparao M. Rao

    Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson SC, USA 29634, Clemson University, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC USA 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States 29634, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634