Electromechanical vibration of carbon nanocoils

A straightforward method for measuring Young's modulus of single carbon nanocoils (CNC) is proposed. Acting as a 1D nano-oscillator, a CNC cantilever was stimulated to vibrate under an alternating electric field. Using a classical continuum model, a formula that accounts for the frequency response of vibration was deduced, and this formula was used to accurately determine the resonance frequency of the CNC. Young's modulus was calculated from the resonance frequency using a theory based on material mechanics. It was found that Young's modulus increased in the longitudinal direction of the coils both in the vibrating and tensile measurements, which resulted from the decline of graphitization during the growth of the CNCs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.