CONNECTION OF SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES BY BANDAGING WITH A BIGGER RADIUS SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBE

We report molecular dynamics studies of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as a bandage to connect separated SWCNTs for getting structures of random length. The mechanical properties of the connected SWCNT strands with different joint length under axial loads are investigated using the classical molecular dynamics simulations method. The interaction between atoms is modeled using the second-generation of reactive empirical bond-order (REBO) potential coupled with the Lennard-Jones (L-J) potential. The mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, critical buckling strains and critical buckling loads are determined and presented for SWCNT and connected SWCNT strands. The results indicates that the joints made in this way have relatively high mechanical properties corresponding to that of the ideal SWCNTs.