Reversible electromechanical characteristics of individual multiwall carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Here we report the reversible change in the nonlinear conductance of a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) when it is bent longitudinally. As the nanotube is compressed and bent, its resistance decreases dramatically. This behavior is fully recoverable. The observed drop in resistance during bending must be the result of increasing number of conduction channels in the nanotube and parallel transport through them. Using this concept of parallel transport, we show that it is indeed possible to electrically model the behavior of the MWNT under compression. The reversible electrical characteristics of a MWNT under bending opens new possibilities for these structures to be applied as nanoscale displacement sensors.