Carbon Nanotube Nanoelectromechanical Devices

University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC

Investigators

Abstract

We propose to use atomic scale features in the dynamic contact between carbon nanotube (CNT) electrical leads to create a voltage to frequency converter, a GHz frequency mixer, and an atomic resolution linear encoder in an integrated sub-micron device. While many of the constituent capabilities required to accomplish our ecperimental goal have been demonstrated in our previous research, several challenges remain. Although electrostatic deflections and induced mechanical resonance of carbon nanotubes have been demonstrated, an integrated CNT oscillator has yet to be constructed. Over the coming year we propose to observe modulations inthe current across CNT/CNT junctions due to atomic corrugation, build suspended nanotube resonators with 100MHz - 10 GHz response in an integrated device, and combine these effects into the devices proposed above. These devices will introduce the ultimate length scale and atomic lattice spacings into integrated actuating devices.