Carbon nanotube electromechanical resonator for ultrasensitive mass/force sensing

Controlling the mechanical motion of objects which have at least one dimension in the range of few nanometers has recently opened new avenues for fundamental science and technological developments. Carbon nanotubes are one of the most promising and suitable nano-objects for such an experimental issue. Indeed, they are an uni-dimensional system with a diameter around 1 nm, they combine exceptional mechanical and electronic properties and they are easy to manipulate and to address. We review here the basic principles of fabrication, of electromechanical actuation and detection of the nanotube motion and we present the first experimental results obtained which have allowed us to (i) understand the effect of the electromechanical on the mechanical properties; and (ii) to test the carbon nanotube capabilities for mass sensing.