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Bending and buckling of carbon nanotubes under large strain

Author

Listed:
  • M. R. Falvo

    (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • G. J. Clary

    (University of North Carolina)

  • R. M. Taylor

    (University of North Carolina)

  • V. Chi

    (University of North Carolina)

  • F. P. Brooks

    (University of North Carolina)

  • S. Washburn

    (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

  • R. Superfine

    (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

Abstract

The curling of a graphitic sheet to form carbon nanotubes1 produces a class of materials that seem to have extraordinary electrical and mechanical properties2. In particular, the high elastic modulus of the graphite sheets means that the nanotubes might be stiffer and stronger than any other known material3,4,5, with beneficial consequences for their application in composite bulk materials and as individual elements of nanometre-scale devices and sensors6. The mechanical properties are predicted to be sensitive to details of their structure and to the presence of defects7, which means that measurements on individual nanotubes are essential to establish these properties. Here we show that multiwalled carbon nanotubes can be bent repeatedly through large angles using the tip of an atomic force microscope, without undergoing catastrophic failure. We observe a range of responses to this high-strain deformation, which together suggest that nanotubes are remarkably flexible and resilient.

Suggested Citation

  • M. R. Falvo & G. J. Clary & R. M. Taylor & V. Chi & F. P. Brooks & S. Washburn & R. Superfine, 1997. "Bending and buckling of carbon nanotubes under large strain," Nature, Nature, vol. 389(6651), pages 582-584, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:389:y:1997:i:6651:d:10.1038_39282
    DOI: 10.1038/39282
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    Cited by:

    1. Xuezhi Ma & Qiushi Liu & Ning Yu & Da Xu & Sanggon Kim & Zebin Liu & Kaili Jiang & Bryan M. Wong & Ruoxue Yan & Ming Liu, 2021. "6 nm super-resolution optical transmission and scattering spectroscopic imaging of carbon nanotubes using a nanometer-scale white light source," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Manzetti, Sergio & Andersen, Otto, 2012. "Toxicological aspects of nanomaterials used in energy harvesting consumer electronics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 2102-2110.
    3. Sergio Manzetti & Otto Andersen, 2013. "Carbon Nanotubes in Electronics: Background and Discussion for Waste-Handling Strategies," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, May.

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