Predictions of a spiral diffusion path for nonspherical organic molecules in carbon nanotubes.
The diffusive behavior of ethane and ethylene in single-walled carbon nanotubes is investigated using classical molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations. At low molecular densities, these nonspherical molecules follow a spiral path inside nanotubes with diameters of 13-22 A, which maximizes the interaction of molecular C-C bonds with the C-C bonds in the nanotubes. Spherical molecules, such as methane, are not predicted to follow a spiral diffusion path. This result quantifies the manner in which molecular shape and chemical bonding affects molecule-nanotube interactions and indicates the generality of spherical transport through nanotubes.
Mao
Zugang
Z
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-6400, USA.
Sinnott
Susan B
SB