Continuous Frequency Controllable Nano-electromechanical Systems Based on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel nano-electromechanical system based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes that can operate at controllable gigahertz frequencies with high amplitude and low dissipation, promising advancements in miniaturized NEMS.

Contribution

The work presents a new model of NEMS using multiwalled carbon nanotubes with tunable high-frequency oscillations and improved performance over existing nano-beam resonators.

Findings

Operates at gigahertz frequencies with controllable electric fields

Achieves larger oscillation amplitudes and forces

Exhibits high Q-factors indicating low dissipation

Abstract

We demonstrate a class of model nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS) based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) which has longer inner cores coaxially oscillating inside their respective shorter outer shell holders and can operate at continuously controllable frequencies up to the gigahertz range when fuelled by AC electric fields. Its additional attributes include much larger oscillation amplitudes and forces and much lower rates of thermal dissipation (Q-factor = 10^5) and air damping (Q-factor = 10^4~10^5) than those of nano-beam based NEMS. A crucial feature of the conceived model NEMS is that after having tuned the electric field frequency to any prescribed value within a permitted range, the NEMS will respond quickly (in sub-nanoseconds) at the same oscillation frequency. These merits, when contrasted with the nano-beam resonators developed so far, make it a better potential candidate for the ongoing miniaturization progress from micro- to nano-electromechanical systems.