Computational study of elastic, structural stability and dynamics properties of penta-graphene membrane

Thermal Transport in Pentagonal CX2 (X = N, P, As, and Sb)

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with a pentagonal structure have many unique physical properties and great potential for applications in electrical, thermal, and optical fields. In this paper, the intrinsic thermal transport properties of 2D pentagonal CX2 (X = N, P, As, and Sb) are comparatively investigated. The results show that penta-CN2 has a high thermal conductivity (302.7 W/mK), while penta-CP2, penta-CAs2, and penta-CSb2 have relatively low thermal conductivities of 60.0, 36.9, and 11.8 W/mK, respectively. The main reason for the high thermal conductivity of penta-CN2 is that the small atomic mass of the N atom is comparable to that of the C atom, resulting in a preferable pentagonal structure with stronger bonds and thus a higher phonon group velocity. The reduction in the thermal conductivity of the other three materials is mainly due to the gradually increased atomic mass from P to Sb, which reduces the phonon group velocity. In addition, the large atomic mass difference does not result in a huge enhancement of the anharmonicity or weakening of the phonon relaxation time. The present work is expected to deepen the understanding of the thermal transport of main group V 2D pentagonal carbons and pave the way for their future applications, also, providing ideas for finding potential thermal management materials.

Methodology for Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Plastic Deformation of a Nickel/Graphene Composite

In this study, some features of molecular dynamics simulation for evaluating the mechanical properties of a Ni/graphene composite and analyzing the effect of incremental and dynamic tensile loading on its deformation are discussed. A new structural type of the composites is considered: graphene network (matrix) with metal nanoparticles inside. Two important factors affecting the process of uniaxial tension are studied: tension strain rate (5 ×10−3 ps−1 and 5 ×10−4 ps−1) and simulation temperature (0 and 300 K). The results show that the strain rate affects the ultimate tensile strength under tension: the lower the strain rate, the lower the critical values of strain. Tension at room temperature results in lower ultimate tensile strength in comparison with simulation at a temperature close to 0 K, at which ultimate tensile strength is closer to theoretical strength. Both simulation techniques (dynamic and incremental) can be effectively used for such a study and result in almost similar behavior. Fabrication technique plays a key role in the formation of the composite with low anisotropy. In the present work, uniaxial tension along three directions shows a big difference in the composite strength. It is shown that the ultimate tensile strength of the Ni/graphene composite is close to that of pure crumpled graphene, while the ductility of crumpled graphene with metal nanoparticles inside is two times higher. The obtained results shed the light on the simulation methodology which should be used for the study of the deformation behavior of carbon/metal nanostructures.

On the Stabilization of Carbynes Encapsulated in Penta-Graphene Nanotubes: a DFT Study

We carried out density functional theory calculations to investigate the electronic and structural properties of linear carbon chains (carbynes) encapsulated in armchair and zigzag penta-graphene (PGNT) nanotubes. Results showed that PGNTs-wrapped carbyne can present negative formation energies that tend to stabilize that encapsulated carbon chains. These chains were stabilized in their cumulene and polyyne forms, with slight dependence on tube diameter. As a general trend, the PGNT band structures are kept almost unchanged upon carbyne encapsulation. This finding indicates weak orbital interactions between the PGNT and the carbyne. No net charge was found in chains encapsulated on zigzag PGNTs. Schematic representation of a carbyne encapsulated in a pentagraphene nanotube.

Effect of Nanoparticle Size on the Mechanical Strength of Ni-Graphene Composites

The effect of the size of nickel nanoparticles on the fabrication of a Ni–graphene composite by hydrostatic pressure at 0 K followed by annealing at 1000 and 2000 K is studied by molecular dynamics simulation. Crumpled graphene, consisting of crumpled graphene flakes interconnected by van der Waals forces is chosen as the matrix for the composite and filled with nickel nanoparticles composed of 21 and 47 atoms. It is found that the main factors that affect composite fabrication are nanoparticle size, the orientation of the structural units, and temperature of the fabrication process. The best stress–strain behavior is achieved for the Ni/graphene composite with Ni47 nanoparticle after annealing at 2000 K. However, all of the composites obtained had strength property anisotropy due to the inhomogeneous distribution of pores in the material volume.