In-situ Resistance Measurements during Tensile Test of Carbon Nanotube using Nano-manipulator

A variety of outstanding experimental results on mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) are fast appearing. Nevertheless, mechanical properties of CNT have been rarely understood because of measurement difficulties. The response of multi walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) to mechanical strain applied with a nano-manipulator was investigated inside scanning electron microscope (SEM). MWNTs were produced by arc-discharge method and the protruded sample for tensile test was selected among the MWNTs fragment which has rectilinearity and purity above 40%. The average diameter of MWNT was approximately 15 nm. In order to measure the resistance of a MWNT during tensile test, an individual MWNT was attached at the tungsten (W) tip using electron beam induced deposition. We confirmed that the contact resistance between a MWNT and the W tip decrease during the exposure of electron beam. And then the W tip were manipulated and controlled by nano-manipulator and personal computer. We observed that resistance of sample was significantly changed until the MWNT fracture