Uncoiling of helical boron nitride-graphene nanoribbons in a single-walled carbon nanotube

What ultimately drives the wrapping, deprivation, and transfer of graphene nanosheets

This study was devoted to investigating the interactions between graphene sheets (GNSs) and metal nanowires via molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation results indicated that the element type, shape, and size of the nanowires would affect their adhering behavior and help achieve the interesting wrapping, deprivation, and transfer phenomenon of a GNS. An appropriate length-width ratio of the GNS and nanowire contributed to the formation of a helical configuration of GNS out of nanowires under the action of van der Waals interactions. Importantly, some of the GNSs could spontaneously peel off from one nanowire and re-assemble a new spiral core-shell structure on another nanowire. This deprivation and re-assembly was associated with the definite elemental selectivity, which was determined by the adsorption energy of the GNSs on the nanowires. The adsorption energy difference drove the full or partial transfer of the GNSs. This study provides deep insights into the interactions between GNSs and nanowires.

Structural transformations of carbon and boron nitride nanoscrolls at high impact collisions

The behavior of nanostructures under high strain-rate conditions has been the object of theoretical and experimental investigations in recent years.

Multi-walled boron nitride nanotubes as self-excited launchers

A self-excited launcher consisting of multi-walled boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) has been investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. The results show that, after a period of high frequency oscillation, the innermost BNNT can be spontaneously ejected along its central axis at a relatively fast speed. The launching is caused by the energy transfer between the nanotubes and without absorbing energy from the external environment. Most self-excited launchers could launch their innermost nanotube, although an inappropriate structure of the nanotubes contributes to a blocked or failed launch. In addition, a launch angle corrector and a nanotube receiver associated with a self-excited launcher are also manufactured to precisely control the launch angle and distance of the BNNTs. This study provides the possibility to fabricate and design self-excited launchers using multi-walled nanotubes.