Benoit, Jean-Michel (Stuttgart, Germany): Actuators of individual CNTs
Macroscopic actuators are made out of bucky paper. Mainly composed of bundles of CNTs.
Youngs modulus of bucky paper 1 GPa (individual CNT: 1 TPa). That's why made nano actuator. Free standing 10-20 nm diameter individual CNT between 2 contacts. AFM tip as displacement sensor and charge injector.
Evaporated markers at surface.
Measured 0.5 TPa on SWNT. After many scans and force measurements CNT is still present!
V2O5 nanofibers sheet on Si wafer. Sol-gel synthesys. Slow motion (seconds!) because charges are localised.
Bucky Yarn Science 290(2000)1332.
Long term goal: nanopump for chemical factory integrated on a Si chip.