Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Nano-I-Beam for Structural Nano-mechanics.

For years Carbon nano-tube has shown merits in industrial applications including high structural strength-to-weight ratio. However, from structural mechanics perspective the tube geometrical cross-section is less favored for providing high structural stiffness and strength. Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Nano-I-Beam is thus introduced for improved Structural Nano-mechanics. It has been found that both Wide Flange Nano-I-Beam and Equal Flange & Web Nano-I-beam provide higher structural stiffness and less induced stress and thus longer service life than Nano-Tube. It has been also found that Wide Flange Nano-I-Beam provides higher structural stiffness and less induced stress and thus longer service life than Equal Flange & Web Nano-I-beam. A thermodynamic model of the growth of nano-tubes accounting for vibrational entropy is presented. The results have cost-effectively potential benefit in applications such as nano-heat engines & sensors.