A multi-walled carbon nanotube-aluminum bimorph nanoactuator

Nanotechnology. 2009 Mar 4;20(9):095502. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/9/095502. Epub 2009 Feb 11.

Abstract

A multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) bimorph nanoactuator has been modeled, fabricated and characterized. A thin aluminum film was uniformly deposited on the sidewalls of MWNTs using a pulsed laser deposition method to create the bimorph nanostructure. For a temperature change from 290 to 690 K with measured dimensions of 100 +/- 20 nm for the MWNT diameter, 40 +/- 10 nm for the Al thickness, and 5.2 +/- 0.5 microm for the bimorph length, the measured deflection was 550 +/- 200 nm, which was in good agreement with the calculation. The actuation force was measured using a lateral force microscopy technique, and the measured values agreed well with the prediction based on the model. The nanoactuator generated a microN force at its tip.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum / chemistry*
  • Crystallization / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Materials Testing
  • Micromanipulation / instrumentation*
  • Micromanipulation / methods
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure
  • Particle Size
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Temperature
  • Transducers*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Aluminum