We show that the Raman scattering technique can give complete structural information for one-dimensional systems, such as carbon nanotubes. Resonant confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy of an (n,m) individual single-wall nanotube makes it possible to assign its chirality uniquely by measuring one radial breathing mode frequency omega(RBM) and using the theory of resonant transitions. A unique chirality assignment can be made for both metallic and semiconducting nanotubes of diameter d(t), using the parameters gamma(0) = 2.9 eV and omega(RBM) = 248/d(t). For example, the strong RBM intensity observed at 156 cm(-1) for 785 nm laser excitation is assigned to the (13,10) metallic chiral nanotube on a Si/SiO2 surface.

Structural (n,m) determination of isolated single wall carbon nanotubes by resonant Raman scattering

Piezopotential gated nanowire devices: Piezotronics and piezo-phototronics

Piezoelectric materials for tissue regeneration: A review

Radiation damage in nanostructured materials

Piezoelectric nanowires are promising building blocks in nanoelectronic, sensing, actuation and nanogenerator systems. In spite of great progress in synthesis methods, quantitative mechanical and electromechanical characterization of these nanostructures is still limited. In this article, the state-of-the art in experimental and computational studies of mechanical and electromechanical properties of piezoelectric nanowires is reviewed with an emphasis on size effects. The review covers existing characterization and analysis methods and summarizes data reported in the literature. It also provides an assessment of research needs and opportunities. Throughout the discussion, the importance of coupling experimental and computational studies is highlighted. This is crucial for obtaining unambiguous size effects of nanowire properties, which truly reflect the effect of scaling rather than a particular synthesis route. We show that such a combined approach is critical to establish synthesis-structure-property relations that will pave the way for optimal usage of piezoelectric nanowires.

A Review of Mechanical and Electromechanical Properties of Piezoelectric Nanowires

In this investigation, the size-scale in mechanical properties of individual [0001] ZnO nanowires and the correlation with atomic-scale arrangements were explored via in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoindentation (NI) systems. The Young's modulus was determined to be size-scale-dependent for nanowires with diameter, d, in the range of 40 nm ≤ d ≤ 110 nm, and reached the maximum of ∼ 249 GPa for d = 40 nm. However, this phenomenon was not observed for nanowires in the range of 200 nm ≤ d ≤ 400 nm, where an average constant Young's modulus of ∼ 147.3 GPa was detected, close to the modulus value of bulk ZnO. A size-scale dependence in the failure of nanowires was also observed. The thick ZnO nanowires (d ≥ 200 nm) were brittle, while the thin nanowires (d ≤ 110 nm) were highly flexible. The diameter effect and enhanced Young's modulus observed in thin ZnO nanowires are due to the combined effects of surface relaxation and long-range interactions present in ionic crystals, which leads to much stiffer surfaces than bulk wires. The brittle failure in thicker ZnO wires was initiated from the outermost layer, where the maximum tensile stress operates and propagates along the (0001) planes. After a number of loading and unloading cycles, the highly compressed region of the thinner nanowires was transformed from a crystalline to an amorphous phase, and the region near the neutral zone was converted into a mixture of disordered atomic planes and bent lattice fringes as revealed by high-resolution images.

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0957-4484/22/26/265712/pdf

In situ observation of size-scale effects on the mechanical properties of ZnO nanowires

Novel PMMA–STO–CNT matrices were created by opened-tip vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) with conformal coatings of strontium titanate (STO) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Emission threshold of 0.8 V/μm was demonstrated, about 5-fold lower than that of the as-grown VA-MWCNTs. This was obtained after considering the related band structures under the perspective of work functions and tunneling width as a function of the STO thickness. We showed that there is an optimum thickness of STO coatings to effectively reduce the work function of CNTs and yet minimize the tunneling width for electron emissions. Furthermore, simulation and modeling suggest that PMMA–STO–CNT matrices have suppressed screening effects and Coulombs’ repulsion forces between electrons in adjacent CNTs, leading to low emission threshold, high emission density, and prolonged emission stability. These findings are important for practical application of VA-MWCNTs in field emission devices, X-ray generation, an...

Very stable electron field emission from strontium titanate coated carbon nanotube matrices with low emission thresholds.

We have created PMMA-CNT matrices by embedding opened-tip vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). These PMMA-CNT matrices are excellent electron field emitters with an emission threshold field of 1.675 V/μm, more than 2-fold lower that that of the as-grown sample. In addition, the emission site density from these matrices is high, merely filling up the entire sample surface. Emission stability test at ∼1.35 mA/cm(2) was performed continuously for 40 h with no significant degradation. On the basis of our theoretical simulation and hypothetical modeling, we attribute these performances to the reduced screening effect and fewer Joule heatings due to the shorter effective transport distance of the electrons in MWCNTs.

Stable Electron Field Emission from PMMA−CNT Matrices

We report here, an investigation on electrical and structural-microstructural properties of an individual ZnO nanobelt via in situ transmission electron microscopy using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) system. The I-V characteristics of the ZnO nanobelt, just in contact with the AFM tip indicates the insulating behavior, however, it behaves like a semiconductor under applied stress. Analysis of the high resolution lattice images and the corresponding electron diffraction patterns shows that each ZnO nanobelt is a single crystalline, having wurtzite hexagonal structure (a=0.324 nm, c=0.520 66 nm) with a general growth direction of [101¯0].

/pdf/in-situ-probing-of-electromechanical-properties-of-an-7wcyzc3fh3.pdf

Abhishek Prasad

Papers

In situ observation of size-scale effects on the mechanical properties of ZnO nanowires

Very stable electron field emission from strontium titanate coated carbon nanotube matrices with low emission thresholds.

Stable Electron Field Emission from PMMA−CNT Matrices

In situ probing of electromechanical properties of an individual ZnO nanobelt

Enhanced field emission stability and density produced by conical bundles of catalyst-free carbon nanotubes