On the atomistic energetics of carbon nanotube collapse from AIREBO potential

Molecular dynamics simulations based on the adaptive intermolecular reactive empirical bond order (AIREBO) were performed to probe hydrostatic pressure induced collapse of single-walled and double-walled carbon nanotubes. It was unveiled that the torsion term, which is a specific potential component involved in the AIREBO scheme, plays a vital role in stabilizing fully collapsed cross-sections of the carbon nanotubes. Evolution of the cross-sectional deformation along the loading-unloading curve was also elucidated, showing strong dependence on the presence of a structural defect on the outer carbon wall.