Mechanical Properties of Nanotubes: Elastic Moduli, Buckling and a Nanometer-Scale Switch

该项目将对纳米管进行合成、表征和建模，以了解其与纳米级机械设备和复合材料组成部分相关的机械性能。弹性模量将使用原子力显微镜测量，以确定应力/应变关系。通过结构特征和确定模量中的不连续的相关性，将特别注意管道的破坏模式。这些研究将在碳和取代纳米管、填充管上进行，并将与分子动力学计算进行比较。原子分子动力学模拟将用于提供原子尺度上对驱动纳米管机械性能的力的洞察。该项目将从最简单的MEMS结构（悬臂开关）开始，将纳米管纳入机械器件结构。这将作为界面效应的测试平台，这将在纳米尺度结构的操作中发挥关键作用。纳米管的表征和原型装置的生产都将通过AFM的一个独特的、先进的接口——纳米操纵器来实现，它允许在测量施加在物体上的法向和侧向力的同时进行简单的操作。* * *

9700677 Superfine This project will synthesize, characterize and model nanotubes to understand their mechanical properties as they relate to nanometer scale mechanical devices and as components of composite materials. The elastic moduli will be measured using Atomic Force Microscopy to determine stress/strain relationships. Particular attention will be paid to the failure modes of the tubes through the correlation of structural features and discontinuities in the determined moduli. These studies will be performed on carbon and substituted nanotubes, filled tubes, and will be compared with molecular dynamics calculations. The atomistic molecular dynamics simulations will be used to provide atomic scale insight into the forces which drive nanotube mechanical performance. The project will begin the incorporation of nanotubes into mechanical device structures beginning with the simplest MEMS structure, a cantilever switch. This will serve as a test bed for the interfacial effects which will play a critical role in the operation of a nanometer scale structure. Both the characterization of the nanotubes and the production of prototype devices will be made possible by a unique, advanced interface for AFM, the nanoManipulator, which permits facile manipulation while measuring the normal and lateral forces exerted on the object. ***