A dissipative particle dynamics model of carbon nanotubes

Abstract

A mesoscale dissipative particle dynamics model of single wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is designed and demonstrated. The coarse-grained model is produced by grouping together carbon atoms and by bonding the new lumped particles through pair and triplet forces. The mechanical properties of the simulated tube are determined by the bonding forces, which are derived by virtual experiments. Through the introduction of van der Waals interactions, tube–tube interactions were studied. Owing to the reduced number of particles, this model allows the simulation of relatively large systems. The applicability of the presented scheme to model CNT based mechanical devices is discussed.

Keywords:

• Carbon nanotubes
• dissipative particle dynamics model
• suspended tubes
• vibrating tubes

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge partial funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) via the Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB) 499 and by the Israel Science Foundation (grant no 1138/04).