Assemblies of silicon nanoparticles roll up into flexible nanotubes

Sahraoui Chaieb, Munir H. Nayfeh, Adam D. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

When a colloidal dispersion of fluorescent 1 nm silicon nanoparticles in alcohol is subjected to an electric field, the nanoparticles are driven to the surface of the anode substrate, where they form a thin film. Upon drying, the film delaminates from the surface of the anode and rolls up into ∼100 μm long nanotube. Nanotube diameters ranging from 0.2 to 5 μm with wall thicknesses in the range of 20-40 nm have been achieved. By applying a force on the tubes using atomic force microscopy, we estimate Young's modulus of the film and find it to be close to that of rubber. We also study the crystalline structure of the film using electron diffraction and find it to be quartzlike.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number062104
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume87
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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