Can multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) slide telescopically?

[taylaron]

Greetings,

I'm trying to find out whether or not straight multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have the ability to slide telescopically. Although I have no formal education on the subject, my suspicion is that quantum interactions will inhibit axial motion, but I'm intrigued as graphite makes a great lubricant.

This situation presumes an ideal or perfect carbon nanotube. See the image below for reference

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...SSCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0"

Thank you for your time,

-Taylaron

 

[Dr Lots-o'watts]

Well I suppose it would depend on the exact difference in radius wouldn't it?

 

[RocketSci5KN]

For a standard dual-walled nanotube, I suspect the answer is 'no', but I'm no expert. It would also depend on the length of the tube, as the C-C bonding strength between the two would increase with length. Now if you could start with two SWNT's, with the inner one being slighly smaller in diameter than the example above, I'd say it should work. But, I have not read about anyone trying this. The below link is a company using CNT's for water purification:

http://www.poriferanano.com/

 

[dav2008]

Yes, that is one of their modes of failure (and probably the more likely one). You can do a quick literature search on "Telescopic pull-out" or "sword-in sheath" to find some papers.

Here is one example: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~biy/Selected%20papers/00JPC_CNTslide.pdf

 

[taylaron]

I don't understand how 2 single-wall CNTs grown non-concentrically can be placed concentric with one another and are able to slide telescopically while the tubes in grown double-walled CNTs cannot slide telescopically.

I was under the impression the two (ideal) tubes on a double-wall CNT were not bound together. I thought that the carbon atoms in CNTs did not have an excess electron after growth. Are the adjacent carbon atoms between concentric CNTs exerting force on one another (from one tube to another)?

I'm not familiar with the strong or weak nuclear force and its implications in this situation.

Thanks,
-Taylaron

 

[taylaron]

Thanks day, that is a really helpful article.

The author mentioned Superlubricity between tubes in multi-walled CNTs. I don't understand how superlubricity works in this context .

-Taylaron