Tunable Mechanical Behavior of Carbon Nanoscroll Crystals Under Uniaxial Lateral Compression

Abstract

A theoretical model is developed to investigate the mechanical behavior of closely packed carbon nanoscrolls (CNSs), the socalled CNS crystals, subjected to uniaxial lateral compression/decompression. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to verify the model predictions. It is shown that the compression behavior of a CNS crystal can exhibit strong hysteresis that may be tuned by an applied electric field. The present study demonstrates the potential of CNSs for applications in energyabsorbing materials as well as nanodevices, such as artificial muscles, where reversible and controllable volumetric deformations are desired.