Thermal Expansion of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

We have developed an analytical method to determine the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for single wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs). We have found that all CTEs are negative at low and room temperature and become positive at high temperature. As the CNT diameter decreases, the range of negative CTE shrinks. The CTE in radial direction of the CNT is less than that in the axial direction for armchair CNTs, but the opposite holds for zigzag CNTs. The radial CTE is independent of the CNT helicity, while the axial CTE shows a strong helicity dependence.