An integrated chip-styled tab for directly tensile testing nanofibers with optical microscopy.

Abstract It is challenging to realize directly the tensile test of single nanofiber under
optical microscopy, due to the difficulty in operating and loading sample. Herein,
a strategy involving a chip-styled tab and a differential force evaluation method is
proposed to solve the problems. By designing patterned structures of micro cantilever
beams, the elastic coefficient of the tab can be reduced to 1.2 N m−1, which clearly
depicts the stress of nanofibers. Based on this tab, tensile tests on single polyvinylidene
fluoride (PVDF) and TiO2 nanofiber were successfully conducted, demonstrating the
mechanical behaviors of highly stretchable polymer nanofibers and highly brittle
ceramic nanofibers. Furthermore, the tab exhibits good stability. The change in the
elastic coefficient of the tab was less than 1% upon multiple stretches, and its gap can
be reset to its original state after repeated use and ultrasonic cleaning. This method
can be applied to the tensile testing of nanofibers, such as polymers and ceramics,
which exhibit diverse mechanical properties. Therefore, it is expected to become a
universal method for conveniently conducting mechanical tests on nanofibers in the
future.