Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Carbon Nanotubes as Gigahertz Oscillators

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate multiwalled carbon nanotubes as gigahertz oscillators, confirming their stability and high-frequency operation, while challenging some previous static model predictions.

Contribution

First molecular dynamics simulation study of carbon nanotube oscillators, providing dynamic stability analysis and frequency estimates, and contrasting with prior static model predictions.

Findings

Nanooscillators are dynamically stable with radii differences of ~3.4 Å.

Frequencies up to 38 GHz observed in simulations.

Calculated forces align with recent experimental data.

Abstract

Recently Zheng and Jiang [PRL 88, 045503 (2002)], based on static models, have proposed that multiwalled carbon nanotubes could be the basis for a new generation of nanooscilators in the several gigahertz range. In this work we present the first molecular dynamics simulation for these systems. Different nanotube types were considered in order to verify the reliability of such devices as gigahertz oscillators. Our results show that these nanooscillators are dynamically stables when the radii difference values between inner and outer tubes are of ~ 3.4 A. Frequencies as large as 38 GHz were observed, and the calculated force values are in good agreement with recent experimental investigations. Moreover, our results contradict some predictions made by Zheng and Jiang.