Multistability of armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes: a molecular dynamics investigation

Abstract

We report by molecular dynamics (MD) that the armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) has a multistability rather than bistability as the diameters are above a threshold value of about 3.5 nm. The present work demonstrates that ACNTs have four stable states when the diameters are above the threshold value. The newly found stable states are caused by surface van der Waals forces. We also find the transformation between different stable states can be realized by external loading or temperature. These imply the ACNTs have a great potential application in the future nanoscale devices.