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.
Yoon
Mina
M
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-2320, USA.
Han
Seungwu
S
Kim
Gunn
G
Lee
Sang Bong
SB
Berber
Savas
S
Osawa
Eiji
E
Ihm
Jisoon
J
Terrones
Mauricio
M
Banhart
Florian
F
Charlier
Jean-Christophe
JC
Grobert
Nicole
N
Terrones
Humberto
H
Ajayan
Pulickel M
PM
Tománek
David
D