Radial Collapse of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Induced by the Cu2O Surface

We studied the radial collapse of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the Cu2O surface using molecular dynamic simulations. When the diameter of CNTs exceeds a threshold, the CNTs approach the Cu2O surface and collapse spontaneously by the van der Waals force between the CNTs and the Cu2O surface. Because the collapsed CNTs are much more like graphenes, this collapse process of CNTs seems the reverse process of folding graphene nanoribbons to form CNTs. The collapsed CNTs exhibit as linked graphene ribbons and have the largest area to contact with the Cu2O Surface, which greatly enhances adhesion between the CNTs and the Cu2O surface and keeps the system much more stable. Due to the hydrophobic properties of CNTs, the collapsed CNTs on the oxide surface can isolate the metal oxide from water solution, which suggests that the collapsed CNTs on the metal oxide surfaces have potential applications in corrosion protection and scale inhibition fields.