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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering
Published on: June 1, 2016
Temperature-induced reversible dominoes in carbon nanotubes
Tienchong Chang1, Zhengrong Guo
1Shanghai Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, Institute of Low Dimensional Carbon and Device Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200072, People's Republic of China. tchang@staff.shu.edu.cn
Abstract:
We show by molecular dynamics simulations that there exists a reversible domino process in single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). SWCNTs with one end collapsed and the other circular are chosen for demonstration. At a low temperature, the collapsed zone spreads over the whole tube, while at a higher temperature, the collapsed zone shrinks, and the circular zone extends along the tube. The reason for the reversible domino process is that the temperature modifies the stable state of the tube. The temperature-induced reversible domino process of SWCNTs provides opportunities for the design of nanoscale heat engines, rechargeable expelling devices, temperature-sensitive devices, mechanical oscillators, and pulse generators, etc.
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