About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Physical Review B - CMMP
Paper
Deformation of carbon nanotubes by surface van der Waals forces
Abstract
The strength and effect of surface van der Waals forces on the shape of multiwalled and single-walled carbon nanotubes is investigated using atomic-force microscopy, continuum mechanics, and molecular-mechanics simulations. Our calculations show that depending on the tube diameter and number of shells, the van der Waals interaction between nanotubes and a substrate results in high binding energies, which has also been determined experimentally. Nanotubes on a substrate may consequently experience radial and axial deformations, which significantly modify the idealized geometry of free nanotubes. These findings have implications for electronic transport and the tribological properties of adsorbed nanotubes. © 1998 The American Physical Society.