Prediction of giant electroactuation for papyruslike carbon nanoscroll structures: First-principles calculations

We study by first-principles calculations the electromechanical response of carbon nanoscroll structures. We show that although they present a very similar behavior to carbon nanotubes in their axial deformation sensitivity, they exhibit a radial response upon charge injection which is up to one order of magnitude larger. In association with their high stability, this behavior makes them a natural choice for a new class of very efficient nanoactuators.74

Rotational dynamics and polymerization of C(60) in C(60)-cubane crystals: A molecular dynamics study

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)We report classical and tight-binding molecular dynamics simulations of the C(60) fullerene and cubane molecular crystal in order to investigate the intermolecular dynamics and polymerization processes. Our results show that, for 200 and 400 K, cubane molecules remain basically fixed, presenting only thermal vibrations, while C(60) fullerenes show rotational motions. Fullerenes perform "free" rotational motions at short times (less than or similar to 1 ps), small amplitude hindered rotational motions (librations) at intermediate times, and rotational diffusive dynamics at long times (greater than or similar to 10 ps). The mechanisms underlying these dynamics are presented. Random copolymerizations among cubanes and fullerenes were observed when temperature is increased, leading to the formation of a disordered structure. Changes in the radial distribution function and electronic density of states indicate the coexistence of amorphous and crystalline phases. The different conformational phases that cubanes and fullerenes undergo during the copolymerization process are discussed.1296IMMP/MCTIN/MCTTHEO-NANOConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Elastic properties of graphyne-based nanotubes

Graphyne nanotubes (GNTs) are nanostructures obtained from rolled up graphyne sheets, in the same way carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are obtained from graphene ones. Graphynes are 2D carbon-allotropes composed of atoms in sp and sp2 hybridized states. Similarly to conventional CNTs, GNTs can present different chiralities and electronic properties. Because of the acetylenic groups (triple bonds), GNTs exhibit large sidewall pores that influence their mechanical properties. In this work, we studied the mechanical response of GNTs under tensile stress using fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our results show that GNTs mechanical failure (fracture) occurs at larger strain values in comparison to corresponding CNTs, but paradoxically with smaller ultimate strength and Young's modulus values. This is a consequence of the combined effects of the existence of triple bonds and increased porosity/flexibility due to the presence of acetylenic groups

Modeling the auxetic transition for carbon nanotube sheets

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)A simple model is developed to predict the complex mechanical properties of carbon nanotube sheets (buckypaper) [L. J. Hall et al., Science 320, 504 (2008)]. Fabricated using a similar method to that deployed for making writing paper, these buckypapers can have in-plane Poisson's ratios changed from positive to negative, becoming auxetic, as multiwalled carbon nanotubes are increasingly mixed with single-walled carbon nanotubes. Essential structural features of the buckypapers are incorporated into the model: isotropic in-plane mechanical properties, nanotubes preferentially oriented in the sheet plane, and freedom to undergo stress-induced elongation by both angle and length changes. The expressions derived for the Poisson's ratios enabled quantitative prediction of both observed properties and remarkable new properties obtainable by structural modification.7811National Science Foundation [DMI-0609115]Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-05-C-0088]Lintec CorporationFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)National Science Foundation [DMI-0609115]Air Force Office of Scientific Research [FA9550-05-C-0088

Geometric and electronic structure of carbon nanotube networks: 'super'-carbon nanotubes

Structures of the so-called super-carbon nanotubes are proposed. These structures are built from single walled carbon nanotubes connected by Y-like junctions forming a 'super'-sheet that is then rolled into a seamless cylinder. Such a procedure can be repeated several times, generating a fractal structure. This procedure is not limited to carbon nanotubes, and can be easily modified for application to other systems. Tight binding total energy and density of states calculations showed that the 'super'-sheets and tubes are stable and predicted to present metallic and semiconducting behaviour.17361762

Topologically Closed Macromolecules Made of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes-'Super'-Fullerenes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We propose and theoretically investigated a new class of topologically closed macromolecules built using single walled carbon nanotubes. These macromolecules are based on the fullerene architecture. Classical molecular dynamics simulations were used to predict their stability, thermal, vibrational, and mechanical properties. These macromolecules, named 'super'-fullerenes, present high porosity, low density (similar to 1 g/cm(3)), and high surface area (congruent to 2500 m(2)/g). Our results predict gas phase specific heat of about 0.4 Jg(-1)K(-1) at room temperature and high flexibility under compressive strains. These properties make these hypothetical macromolecules good candidates for gas storage material and biomolecular sieves.10743784383Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2007/03923-1

Thermophoretically driven carbon nanotube oscillators

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The behavior of a nanodevice based upon double-walled carbon nanotube oscillators driven by periodically applied thermal gradients (7 and 17 K/nm) is investigated by numerical calculations and classical molecular dynamics simulations. Our results indicate that thermophoresis can be effective to initiate the oscillator and that suitable heat pulses may provide an appropriate way to tune its behavior. Sustained regular oscillatory as well as chaotic motions were observed for the systems investigated in this work. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3276546]9525Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2007/03923-1

Comparative parametric method 5 (PM5) study of trans-stilbene

In this work we report a comparative Austin method 1 (AM1), parametric method 3 (PM3), and parametric method 5 (PM5) studies for trans-stilbene in its ground, excited (singlet and triplet), and ionic (positive and negative polarons and bipolarons) states. We evaluated the accuracy of the recently developed PM5 method. PM5 and AM1 predict a non-planar ground and singlet states for trans-stilbene, while PM3 predicts planar ones, which is in agreement with the available experimental data. In general the PM3 and PM5 bond lengths are superior to AM1 while AM1 bond angles are superior to PM3 and PM5 when compared with available experimental data. The PM5 underestimates the cis-trans isomerization energy and and it is not a quite reliable method for the calculation of relative IP values. The presumed PM5 superior performance against AM1 and PM3 was not observed for the stilbene structures. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.6864169910310

Structural and electronic properties of zigzag carbon nanotubes filled with small fullerenes

In this work we investigated the encapsulation of C-20 and C-30 fullerenes into semiconducting carbon nanotubes to study the possibility of bandgap engineering in such systems. Classical molecular dynamics simulations coupled to tight-binding calculations were used to determine the conformational and electronic properties of carbon nanotubes with an increasing fullerene concentration. We have observed that C-20 fullerenes behave similarly to a n-type dopant while C-30 can provide p-type doping in some cases. The combined incorporation of both types of fullerenes ( hybrid encapsulation) into the same nanotube leads to a behaviour similar to that found in electronic pn-junctions. These aspects can be exploited in the design of nanoelectronic devices using semiconducting carbon nanotubes.192

Mechanical properties of carbon nanotube networks by molecular mechanics and impact molecular dynamics calculations

We report a theoretical investigation of the mechanical properties of idealized networks formed by single-walled carbon nanotubes showing crossbar and hexagonal architectures. The study was performed by using molecular mechanics calculations and impact dynamics simulations based on bond-order empirical potential. The studied networks were predicted to have elasticity modulus of similar to 10-100 GPa and bulk modulus of similar to 10 GPa. The results show a transition from high to moderate flexibility during the deformation stages. This behavior was associated with the existence of two deformation mechanisms presented by the network related to the nanotube stretching and junction bending processes.75