Design and evaluation of a nanoscale differential tensile test device for nanofibers

The development of nanofibers could open new avenues in fundamental research and novel applications. Tensile properties of these nanofibers are a good indicator of their overall mechanical response. However, accurate measurements of tensile properties at the micro- and nanoscales remain a challenge. Here we report a simple but highly efficient differential nanoscale tensile test device constructed from off the shelf state-of-the-art components. The unique feature of this device is that it can measure the applied load and specimen’s deformation in the nanonewton and nanometer scales, respectively. First experimental results on electrospun nanofibers are reported.