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Electromechanical instability in suspended carbon nanotubes
L Magnus Jonsson1, Leonid Y Gorelik, Robert I Shekhter
1Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE - 412 96 Göteborg, Sweden. mjonsson@fy.chalmers.se
Nano Letters
|June 10, 2005
Summary
Freely suspended carbon nanotubes exhibit electromechanical instability when current injection exceeds a threshold, causing large vibrations and altering electrical properties. This shuttle-like behavior is dependent on energy dissipation.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) possess unique electromechanical properties.
- Understanding their behavior under electrical bias is crucial for nanoelectronic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate the electromechanical properties of freely suspended carbon nanotubes.
- To explore the conditions leading to electromechanical instability and its effects on current-voltage characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical investigation of electromechanical properties.
- Simulation of current injection using a scanning tunneling microscope model.
- Analysis of bias voltage effects on CNT bending modes.
Main Results:
- A shuttle-like electromechanical instability was predicted.
- Instability occurs when bias voltage surpasses a dissipation-dependent threshold.
- Large amplitude vibrations of the CNT bending mode were observed.
Conclusions:
- Electromechanical instability in suspended CNTs can be induced by current injection.
- This instability significantly modifies the system's current-voltage characteristics.
- The findings offer insights into CNT-based nanoelectromechanical systems.