In-situ Electromechanical Testing
We have developed a unique MEMS-based nanoscale-Material Testing System (n-MTS), which is interfaced with scanning and transmission electron microscopes (SEM/TEM) for in-situ (electro) mechanical characterization in uniaxial loading. The displacement-controlled loading is applied using the thermal actuator and load is measured from the displacement of the load sensor shuttle based on a differential capacitive sensing scheme. As the actuator and the sensor are both controlled electronically, high resolution imaging of the specimen can be performed during the tension/compression testing. For instance, nanodiffraction patterns can be obtained at different stages of loading to obtain direct atomic level strain. Likewise, mechanically induced defects such as dislocation and fracture are imaged in real time. This testing set-up has been employed to study the mechanical and electromechanical response of semiconducting nanowires and carbon nanotubes.
We have employed this set-up (i) to experimentally prove the theoretical strength of carbon nanotubes as predicted by quantum mechanics simulations; (ii) to characterize elasticity size effects in semiconducting zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires and (iii) to investigate the failure modes in ZnO NWs.
Complementing the MEMS testing platforms, we have developed extensive expertise in precision-manipulation of individual 1-D nanostructures. Nanomanipulation is a critical component of nanoscale testing because in order to test the properties of individual nanostructures they must be carefully manipulated and placed on the testing platforms. We use a piezoelectric nanomanipulator with nanometer resolution inside a SEM or dual beam FIB/SEM to carefully position nanostructures. Combining controlled electron beam induced deposition of carbon or platinum, focused ion or electron beam cutting and know-how accumulated over years of experimentation, we are able to place nanowires, nanotubes and nanotube bundles in many configurations suitable for testing.
Our current efforts include investigating nanowires made of other materials like gallium nitride (GaN), silver and gold. We investigate size effects in mechanical properties such as the Young’s Modulus and electrical and electromechanical properties such as conductivity and piezoelectricity. Recently, we have performed in-situ TEM tests on GaN nanowires revealing their mechanical properties. These results were coupled with simulations to give an unambiguous picture of the mechanical properties of these nanowires.