Modeling and Vibration Analysis of Carbon Nanotubes as Nanomechanical Resonators for Force Sensing

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have attracted considerable attention as nanomechanical resonators because of their exceptional mechanical properties and nanoscale dimensions. In this study, a novel CNT-based probe is proposed as an efficient nanoforce sensing nanomaterial that detects external pressure. The CNT probe was designed to be fixed by clamping tunable outer CNTs. By using the mobile-supported outer CNT, the position of the partially clamped outer CNT can be controllably shifted, effectively tuning its resonant frequency. This study comprehensively investigates the modeling and vibration analysis of gigahertz frequencies with loaded CNTs used in sensing applications. The vibration frequency of a partially clamped CNT probe under axial loading was modeled using continuum mechanics, considering various parameters such as the clamping location, length, and boundary conditions. In addition, the interaction between external forces and CNT resonators was investigated to evaluate their sensitivity for force sensing. Our results provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of CNT-based nanomechanical resonators for high-performance force sensing applications.