Atomic Nanotube Welders.

ORAL

Abstract

We demonstrate that the incorporation of boron between double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) during thermal annealing results in covalent nanotube ``Y'' junctions, DWNT coalescence and the formation of flattened multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The processes occur via the merging of adjacent tubes which is triggered by B interstitial atoms. In order to demonstrate the unique welder properties of B in the process, we have carried out \textit{AM1} molecular dynamics simulations at high temperatures and \textit{ab-initio }calculations. We observe that B atom interstitials between DWNTs are responsible for the rapid establishment of covalent connections between neighboring tubes (polymerization). Once B is in the lattice, tube faceting (polygonization) starts to occur, and the electronic properties are expected to change dramatically.

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Authors

  • Morinobu Endo

    Shinshu University, Shinshu Un., Japan, Shinshu University, Japan

  • Hiroyuki Muramatsu

    Shinshu University, Japan

  • Takuya Hayashi

  • Y.A. Kim

    Shinshu University, Japan

  • G. Van Lier

  • J-C. Charlier

    Universit\'{e} Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, Un. Cath. de Louvain, Belgium

  • H. Terrones

    IPICYT, Mexico, Advanced Materials Dept IPICyT, Camino Presa Sn Jose 2055 Lomas 4a Sec, SLP 78216 Mexico

  • Mildred S. Dresselhaus

    MIT - USA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, USA, EECS/Physics, MIT, MIT

  • M. Terrones

    IPICYT, Mexico