Development of Hybrid MEMS/FIB Processes and Applications of Three-pronged Active Nanotweezers For Manipulation of Nano Objects

We report recent development of a three-probe micromachined nanomanipulator for manipulation and in-situ characterization of nanomaterials in scanning electron microscope (SEM). The nanomanipulator consists of three independent probes having thermal bimetallic actuators and nanoscopic end-effectors. Nanoscale end-effectors with sub-100-nm spacing are created using focused ion beam (FIB) milling to directly interface with nanoscopic objects (e.g., nanotubes, nanowires). Handling of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was successfully realized with the nanomanipulator in an SEM.