Finite element investigation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes as mass sensors

Abstract

Using the finite element method, multi-walled carbon nanotubes-based mass sensors are studied. The effects of different parameters such as number of walls of nanotube, nanotube diameter and nanotube length on the mass sensibility are explored. It is shown that the maximum sensitivity of nanotubes under clamped-free boundary conditions occurs when the mass is located at the farthest location from the clamped edge. Comparing the results of nanotubes with different walls, it is observed that single-walled carbon nanotubes are the best mass sensors. Moreover, it is represented that for large masses connected to the nanotubes, the mass sensor can only identify that an external mass added to it and the mass value is not identifiable. © EDP Sciences, 2017.