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.
HU Jie, ZHANG Yujun, LI Peng, WANG Hui, HUANG Lan & HU YuanzhongState Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
A star-shaped compound of perfluoro-1-octanesulfonated fullerene was synthesized. The measurement of the friction for its spin-coating film by friction force microscopy (FFM) reveals that the films possess lower friction force compared to that of the star-shaped C-60-polystyrene films.
Nanomanipulation plays an important role in nanofabrication, it is also a technology necessary in exploring the secrets of nanoworld, and it thus becomes a start point to research future nanomachine. In this study, manipulation and cutting of carbon nanotubes have been conducted in order to examine whether we can move a nano-component from one site to another by using the tip of atomic force microscope (AFM). The technique may also be valuable for providing the constructive materials of nanofabrication. While exploring the method for manipulating and cutting of nanotubes, some new phenomena have been observed during the process. Results show that carbon nanotubes present a feature of deformation combining bending and distortion when subjected to large mechanical forces exerted by the tip of AFM. In special cases, long carbon nanotubes can be cut into two parts, by which we can remove the part where crystal lattice is flawed, and therefore a perfect nanocomponent can be obtained.
