Abstract
We use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the effects of vacancies on tube diameters and interwall spacings of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Two types of vacancies, double vacancy and three dangling-bond (3DB) single vacancy, are identified to have opposite effects on the tube size change, which explains the inconsistency of the experimentally measured interwall spacings of MWCNTs after electron beam irradiation. A theoretical model to quantitatively predict the shrunk structures of the irradiated MWCNTs is further developed. We also discuss the fabrications of prestressed MWCNTs, in which reduced interwall spacings are desired to enhance the overall elastic modulus and strength.
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Project supported by the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (No. 2007CB936803), the National High-Tech R&D Program (863) of China (No. 2008AA03Z302), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10832005), and the Joint Research Scheme of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (No. 50518003)
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Ma, Md., Liu, J.Z., Wang, Lf. et al. Effects of vacancies on interwall spacings of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. A 11, 714–721 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1000174
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.A1000174