Electro-Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes

碳纳米管的电-机械性能（作者：K. Jimmy Hsia, Yonggang Y. Huang, Ivan G. Petrov, and Ian M. robertson）伊利诺伊大学香槟分校（Urbana- champaign, IL 61801e）摘要本研究项目旨在组建一个多学科团队，并具有互补的专业知识来研究一类非常重要的纳米技术材料系统——碳纳米管和纳米管复合材料。研究的重点是碳纳米管中机械变形和电响应之间的强耦合。采用模型和实验相结合的方法研究了纳米管嵌入复合材料的机电耦合。利用第一性原理模拟工具和基于原子的纳米尺度连续介质理论来追求对机电耦合效应的基本理解。利用HRTEM/STEM结合EELS和FIB的实验技术表征了纳米管与基体之间的界面结构和复合材料的微观结构。通过拉伸纳米管复合材料试样，测量了纳米管的机电耦合特性。测量结果的解释是通过对纳米管和基体之间的界面结构和传输机制的理解进行建模来完成的。这个项目的成功很大程度上取决于建模和实验的结合。碳纳米管中机械变形和电响应之间的强耦合为许多潜在的应用提供了独特的机会，例如纳米级传感器和执行器，纳米机电系统（NEMS）和纳米电子器件。理解纳米管中的耦合现象使生产具有纳米级传感和驱动功能的智能材料和设备成为可能。研究结果包括纳米管机电耦合的基本测量数据，增强了对复合材料中纳米管与基体之间界面结构的认识，以及基于原子的纳米尺度连续体模型，用于分析碳纳米管和纳米管复合材料的力学响应和机电耦合。这些研究成果的应用显著提高了美国工业在纳米技术方面的未来竞争力。此外，该项目培养的研究生和本科生有望成为纳米科学和纳米技术的下一代领导者。

Electro-Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotubesby K. Jimmy Hsia, Yonggang Y. Huang, Ivan G. Petrov, and Ian M. RobertsonUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801AbstractThis research project is to assemble a multidisciplinary team with complementary expertise to study a class of very important material systems for nanotechnologies - carbon nanotubes and nanotube composites. The focus of the investigation is the strong coupling between mechanical deformation and electrical response in carbon nanotubes. An integrated modeling and experimental approach is taken to study the electro-mechanical coupling in composites embedded with aligned nanotubes. First-principle simulation tools and atomistic-based nanoscale continuum theory are used to pursue fundamental understanding of mechanical-electrical coupling effects. Experimental techniques using HRTEM/STEM in combination with EELS and FIB are used to characterize interface structures between nanotubes and matrix, and the microstructures of composites. The electro-mechanical coupling of nanotubes is measured by straining the nanotube composite specimens. The interpretation of the measurement results is accomplished by the modeling effort with an understanding of the interfacial structures and transport mechanisms between the nanotubes and the matrix. The success of this project strongly depends on the integration of the modeling and experimental efforts.The strong coupling between mechanical deformation and electrical response in carbon nanotubes provides a unique opportunity for many potential applications such as nanoscale sensors and actuators, nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS), and nano-electronic devices. Understanding the coupling phenomenon in nanotubes enables possible production of smart materials and devices with sensing and actuating functions at the nano-scale. The results of the research project include basic measurement data of the electro-mechanical coupling of nanotubes, enhanced knowledge of the interface structures between nanotubes and matrix in a composite, and atomistic-based nanoscale continuum models for analyzing mechanical responses and electro-mechanical coupling of carbon nanotubes and nanotube composites. Applications of these research results significantly improve U.S. industry's future competitiveness in nanotechnology. Furthermore, graduate and undergraduate students trained in the project are expected to become the next generation of leaders in nano-science and nanotechnology.