Formation of Multi-Walled Nanotubes from Diamond Nanowires

Abstract

Based on classical molecular dynamics simulation, we show the possibility of the formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes from diamond nanowires at elevated temperatures. Since the outermost shell of a diamond nanowire can be regarded as a corrugated graphene sheet bound via elongated intershell bonds, thermal annealing of the nanowire causes successive peeling of the outermost shell and results in a structural transformation from an sp3 structure into an sp2 rich nanostructure. The resultant structures could be classified as multi-walled carbon nanotubes with some stacking faults.