Molecule Delivery by the Domino Effect of Carbon Nanotubes

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• 作者：Qingzhong Xue ; Dan Xia ; Cheng Lv ; Nuannuan Jing ; Cuicui Ling
• 刊名：Journal of Physical Chemistry C
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：October 27, 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：115
• 期：42
• 页码：20471-20480
• 全文大小：1190K
• 年卷期：v.115,no.42(October 27, 2011)
• ISSN：1932-7455

文摘

Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we demonstrate the domino effect of a carbon nanotube (CNT) whose diameter is less than 35 脜. Our simulations show that the domino wave will propagate backward, when the CNT has certain appropriate dimensions (length and diameter), after passing through the whole CNT for the first time, and then develops over the leftover standing up CNT ring again, until the energy is released. The optimal conditions for the backward-propagating phenomenon are that the CNT diameter is about 22 脜 and its length is around 225鈥?25 脜. Molecules and atoms inside the CNT can be expelled by the domino wave at muzzle velocities of over 1 km/s, more than 1.5 times the muzzle velocity of an AK-47 machine gun. The domino effect is also found in SiC nanotubes for the first time. Our findings show a potential use for CNTs as the energy provider to deliver drug molecules, gas, water, and so on, and even can be used to design new concept domino-driven nanodevices, such as nanoinjectors, nanoperforators, and nanoguns.