Dilation-Induced Phases of Gases Absorbed within a Bundle of Carbon Nanotubes

M. Mercedes Calbi; Flavio Toigo; Milton W. Cole

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.5062

Dilation-Induced Phases of Gases Absorbed within a Bundle of Carbon Nanotubes

M. Mercedes Calbi, Flavio Toigo, and Milton W. Cole

Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 5062 – Published 28 May 2001

Abstract

A study is presented of the effects of gas (especially $H_{2}$ ) absorption within the interstitial channels of a bundle of carbon nanotubes. The ground state of the system is determined by minimizing the total energy, which includes the molecules' interaction with the tubes, the intertube interaction, and the molecules' mutual interaction (which is screened by the tubes). The consequences of swelling include a reduced threshold pressure for gas uptake and a $2.7 %$ increase in the tubes' breathing mode frequency.

Received 28 November 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.5062

Authors & Affiliations

M. Mercedes Calbi¹, Flavio Toigo^1,2, and Milton W. Cole¹

¹Department of Physics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
²INFM and Dipartimento di Fisica “G. Galilei”, via Marzolo 8, I-35131, Padova, Italy