Eur. Phys. J. B 84, 69-77 (2011)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2011-20204-1

Regular Article

Carbon nanotubes adhesion and nanomechanical behavior from peeling force spectroscopy

¹ Université Bordeaux 1, CPMOH 351, Cours de la Libération, 33405 Talence Cedex, France
² Université de Lyon, Laboratoire de Physique, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5672, 46, Allée d’Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France

^a e-mail: Ludovic.Bellon@ens-lyon.fr

Received: 16 March 2011
Received in final form: 12 September 2011
Published online: 26 October 2011

Abstract

Applications based on single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) are good example of the great need to continuously develop metrology methods in the field of nanotechnology. Contact and interface properties are key parameters that determine the efficiency of SWNT functionalized nanomaterials and nanodevices. In this work we have taken advantage of a good control of the SWNT growth processes at an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip apex and the use of a low noise (10⁻¹³ m/√Hz) AFM to investigate the mechanical behavior of a SWNT touching a surface. By simultaneously recording static and dynamic properties of SWNT, we show that the contact corresponds to a peeling geometry, and extract quantities such as adhesion energy per unit length, curvature and bending rigidity of the nanotube. A complete picture of the local shape of the SWNT and its mechanical behavior is provided.