Abstract
We have developed the in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) nanomaterial manipulation system including newly designed Electrostatically Actuated NAnotensile Testing devices (EANATs), in order to investigate mechanical characteristics of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesized by an atmosphere pressure-chemical vapor deposition (APCVD). The new EANATs can measure uniaxial tensile displacement of nanomaterials with the capacitive displacement sensor incorporated to the cantilever motion amplification system. The nanomaterial manipulation system functions to pick up an individual MWCNT from a substrate and to fix it on EANATs. Stress-strain relations of MWCNTs were successfully obtained from the nanotensile tests, and Young's moduli were estimated to be 243 to 623 GPa. The shear strength at stick-slip event during interlayer sliding of MWCNTs under tensile loading was directly derived from the shear interaction force in tensile force-displacement curves and SEM observations.
