A semi-analytical approach for the interaction of carbon nanotori

Abstract

Based on the continuum approximation together with Lennard-Jones potential, a new semi-analytical method is developed to investigate the van der Waals interaction between two parallel carbon nanotori. Considering that atomistic approaches, such as classical molecular dynamics and density functional theory, are often computationally expensive, the present continuum method can be alternatively used for theoretical modeling of interaction force and energy between nanostructures. Following the present method, a semi-analytical expression is given in terms of double integrals which can be used to obtain the potential energy and interaction force. Investigating the effects of geometrical parameters on the potential energy and interaction force distributions reveals the oscillatory behavior of two parallel carbon nanotori and the plausibility of using them as the ideal traps for atoms and particles.