Strain energy and lateral friction force distributions of carbon nanotubes manipulated into shapes by atomic force microscopy

Abstract

The interplay between local mechanical strain energy and lateral frictional forces determines the shape of carbon nanotubes on substrates. In turn, because of its nanometer-size diameter, the shape of a carbon nanotube strongly influences its local electronic, chemical, and mechanical properties. Few, if any, methods exist for resolving the strain energy and static frictional forces along the length of a deformed nanotube supported on a substrate. We present a method using nonlinear elastic rod theory in which we compute the flexural strain energy and static frictional forces along the length of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) manipulated into various shapes on a clean SiO 2 substrate. Using only high resolution atomic force microscopy images of curved single walled nanotubes, we estimate flexural strain energy distributions on the order of attojoules per nanometer and the static frictional forces between a SWCNT and SiO 2 surface to be a minimum of 230 pN nm −1 .

Kinetic and static friction between alumina nanowires and a Si substrate characterized using a bending manipulation method

“…[1][2][3][4] In most of the NW/substrate based devices, the static friction force is the one that holds the NW in position and in shape, 5,6 while the kinetic friction force will influence its movement. 7 Although friction has been brought into the field of physics for over centuries, the underlying mechanism of friction at nanoscale is not well understood yet as those laws that govern the friction at macroscale are not valid.…”

Manipulation of gold colloidal nanoparticles with atomic force microscopy in dynamic mode: influence of particle–substrate chemistry and morphology, and of operating conditions

“…For instance, M.C. Strus et al have manipulated carbon nanotubes and estimated the flexural strain energy distributions and static frictional force between a carbon nanotube and a SiO 2 surface [16]. Nanometer scale antimony particles have been manipulated on an atomically flat graphite surface by atomic force microscopy techniques and quantitative information on interfacial friction was extracted from the lateral manipulation of these nanoparticles [17].…”

Dynamic stiffness of the contact between a carbon nanotube and a flat substrate in a peeling geometry

“…For example, the AFM has been successfully used to characterize the adhesion of one dimensional nano-object, such as carbon nanotubes [3][4][5][6] . In particular, in peeling experiments, one measures the force while the nanotube is pulled from a flat substrate [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] .…”