Self-assembly of graphene nanostructures on nanotubes

We demonstrate by molecular dynamics simulations that carbon nanotubes can activate and guide on their surfaces and in their interiors the self-assembly of planar graphene nanostructures of various sizes and shapes. Nanotubes can induce bending, folding, sliding, and rolling of the nanostructures in vacuum and in the presence of solvent, leading to stable graphene rings, helices, and knots. We investigate the self-assembly conditions and analyze the stability of the formed nanosystems, with numerous possible applications.