Large flexibility of high aspect ratio carbon nanostructures fabricated by electron-beam-induced deposition

The mechanical properties of free-standing electron beam deposited amorphous carbon structures have been studied using atomic force microscopy. The fabricated carbon blades are found to be extraordinarily flexible, capable of undergoing vertical deflection up to similar to 75% of their total length without inelastic deformation. The elastic bending modulus of these structures was calculated to be 28 +/- 10 GPa.