A one-dimensional continuous model for carbon nanotubes

Xiaohua Zhou

Published 2011-02-10, updated 2012-02-10Version 5

The continuous two-dimensional (2D) elastic model for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) provided by Tu and Ou-Yang in [Phys. Rev. B \textbf{65}, 235411 (2003)] is reduced to a one-dimensional (1D) curvature elastic model strictly. This model is in accordance with the isotropic Kirchhoff elastic rod theory. Neglecting the in-plane strain energy in this model, it is suitable to investigate the nature features of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with large deformations and can reduce to the string model in [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{76}, 4055 (1997)] when the deformation is small enough. For straight chiral shapes, this general model indicates that the difference of the chiral angle between two equilibrium states is about $\pi/6$, which is consistent with the lattice model. It also reveals that the helical shape has lower energy for per atom than the straight shape has in the same condition. By solving the corresponding equilibrium shape equations, the helical tube solution is in good agreement with the experimental result, and super helical shapes are obtained and we hope they can be found in future experiments.