Interstitial He and Ne in Nanotube Bundles

TL;DR

This paper investigates how helium and neon atoms behave when confined in the interstitial spaces of carbon nanotube bundles, revealing strong binding energies and potential for unique high-density phases and anisotropic states.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the adsorption properties and phase behavior of He and Ne in nanotube interstitials, highlighting their potential for novel material states.

Findings

He and Ne exhibit strong physisorption in nanotube interstitials.

High density phases can form at low vapor pressures.

Potential for anisotropic liquids or crystalline phases depending on channel corrugation.

Abstract

We explore the properties of atoms confined to the interstitial regions within a carbon nanotube bundle. We find that He and Ne atoms are of ideal size for physisorption interactions, so that their binding energies are much greater there than on planar surfaces of any known material. Hence high density phases exist at even small vapor pressure. There can result extraordinary anisotropic liquids or crystalline phases, depending on the magnitude of the corrugation within the interstitial channels.