Nanotweezers consisting of carbon nanotubes operating in an atomic force microscope

We have developed nanotweezers consisting of carbon nanotubes that will operate in an atomic force microscope. The two nanotubes were attached on the metal electrodes patterned on a conventional Si tip and their fixations were made by carbon deposition. These processes were made under the view of a scanning electron microscope. The application of a dc voltage to the two nanotube arms induces their movement to approach each other. The numerical simulation by taking into account the balance between the electrostatic attraction and the bending moment of the nanotubes well explains the motion of the nanotube arms. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.