Carbon Nanotube-based Micromehanical Contact Delivers Stable Electric Current

A team led by Jongbaeg Kim at Yonsei University in South Korea has developed a micromechanical contact designed on the lines of aligned carbon-nanotube (CNT) arrays.

The CNT arrays synthesized onto electrodes are adjustable. They can be preloaded while being synthesized for micromechanical contact. CNT is grown by depositing a nanotube vapor on the silicon substrate and in a space between the electrodes. The CNT switch keeps becoming bigger in spite of the gap being filled. This creates a force that resembles preloading of a spring.

The contact between arrays is stable and does not wear out easily, is resistant to melting, and sticking. The CNTs have a big surface area, which helps them communicate with each other.

The team says the switches could be used in multiple micro- and macrosized applications including those needing to deliver stable electrical current.

Sou rce: http://www.yonsei.ac.kr/eng