Zipper mechanism of nanotube fusion: theory and experiment.
We propose a new microscopic mechanism to explain the unusually fast fusion process of carbon nanotubes. We identify the detailed pathway for two adjacent (5,5) nanotubes to gradually merge into a (10,10) tube, and characterize the transition states. The propagation of the fused region is energetically favorable and proceeds in a morphology reminiscent of a Y junction via a zipper mechanism, involving only Stone-Wales bond rearrangements with low activation barriers. The zipper mechanism of fusion is supported by a time series of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-2320, USA.
Mina
M
Yoon
Seungwu
S
Han
Gunn
G
Kim
Sang Bong
SB
Lee
Savas
S
Berber
Eiji
E
Osawa
Jisoon
J
Ihm
Mauricio
M
Terrones
Florian
F
Banhart
Jean-Christophe
JC
Charlier
Nicole
N
Grobert
Humberto
H
Terrones
Pulickel M
PM
Ajayan
David
D
Tománek