Effect of sp3-hybridized defects on the oscillatory behavior of carbon nanotube oscillators

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the oscillatory behaviors of carbon nanotube oscillators containing sp3-hybridized defects formed by hydrogen chemisorption. It is found that the presence of these defects significantly affects the kinetic and potential energies of the nanotube systems, which in turn affects their oscillation periods and frequencies. We have also studied the oscillatory characteristics of the oscillators containing sp3-hybridized Stone–Wales defects. Our results show that it is possible to control the motion of the inner nanotube by introducing sp3-hybridized defects on the outer nanotube, which provides a potential way to tune the oscillatory behavior of nanotube oscillators.

► sp3-hybridized defects increase energy dissipation. ► sp3-hybridized defects arranged in a row have stronger effect than that in a ring. ► sp3-hybridized defects reduces the effect of SW defects.