title: Modeling electrostatically induced collapse transitions in carbon nanotubes.
abstract: Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate how a mechanically bistable single-walled carbon nanotube can act as a variable-shaped capacitor. If the voltage is tuned so that collapsed and inflated states are degenerate, the tube's susceptibility to diverse external stimuli--temperature, voltage, trapped atoms--diverges following a universal curve, yielding an exceptionally sensitive sensor or actuator. The boundary between collapsed and inflated states can shift hundreds of angstroms in response to a single gas atom inside the tube. Several potential nanoelectromechanical devices could be based on this electrically tuned crossover between near-degenerate collapsed and inflated configurations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802-6300, USA.
authors.forename: Oleg E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Shklyaev
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mockensturm
authors.forename: Vincent H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Crespi