We here investigated the thermal and mechanical behaviors of three-dimensional beta zeolite-templated carbon nanotube networks (BZCN). These networks are topologically generated by inserting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into zeolite channels and connecting them using X-type junctions. We considered two cases, one with the tubes filling all zeolite channels (HD-BZCN) and the other with just partial filling (LD-BZCN). Fully atomistic reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that the networks exhibit high thermal stability (up to 1000 K). When compressed, the structures can withstand very large strains without fracturing (>50% for HD-BZCN and >70% for LD-BZCN). LD-BZCN can be stretched over 100% without fracturing.
@article{arxiv.1912.10281,
title = {Three-dimensional carbon nanotube networks from beta zeolite templates: Thermal stability and mechanical properties},
author = {Eliezer F. Oliveira and Leonardo D. Machado and Ray H. Baughman and Douglas S. Galvao},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1912.10281},
year = {2020}
}