Title: High frequency nanotube oscillator

Abstract

A tunable nanostructure such as a nanotube is used to make an electromechanical oscillator. The mechanically oscillating nanotube can be provided with inertial clamps in the form of metal beads. The metal beads serve to clamp the nanotube so that the fundamental resonance frequency is in the microwave range, i.e., greater than at least 1 GHz, and up to 4 GHz and beyond. An electric current can be run through the nanotube to cause the metal beads to move along the nanotube and changing the length of the intervening nanotube segments. The oscillator can operate at ambient temperature and in air without significant loss of resonance quality. The nanotube is can be fabricated in a semiconductor style process and the device can be provided with source, drain, and gate electrodes, which may be connected to appropriate circuitry for driving and measuring the oscillation. Novel driving and measuring circuits are also disclosed.

Inventors:

Peng, Haibing ^[1]; Zettl, Alexander K ^[2]

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+ Show Inventor Affiliations

1. Houston, TX
2. Kensington, TX

Issue Date:

Tue Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2012

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1036474

Patent Number(s):

8120448

Application Number:

12/446,231

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03B - GENERATION OF OSCILLATIONS, DIRECTLY OR BY FREQUENCY-CHANGING, BY CIRCUITS EMPLOYING ACTIVE ELEMENTS WHICH OPERATE IN A NON-SWITCHING MANNER

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B82 - NANOTECHNOLOGY B82Y - SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES

B82Y10/00 - Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic

H - ELECTRICITY H03 - BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY H03B - GENERATION OF OSCILLATIONS, DIRECTLY OR BY FREQUENCY-CHANGING, BY CIRCUITS EMPLOYING ACTIVE ELEMENTS WHICH OPERATE IN A NON-SWITCHING MANNER

H03B7/00 - Generation of oscillations using active element having a negative resistance between two of its electrodes

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

Y10S977/742 - Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
Y10S977/748 - Modified with atoms or molecules bonded to the surface
Y10S977/847 - Surface modifications, e.g. functionalization, coating
Y10S977/932 - for electronic or optoelectronic application

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION