A molecular dynamics study on carbon-nanotube oscillators with intertube gaps

We investigated the dynamics properties of the carbon-nanotube (CNT) oscillators with intertube gaps via classical molecular dynamics simulations. The maximum frequencies of the CNT-oscillators were achieved when the lengths of the outertube including the gap were the same as the length of the coretube, and so their maximum frequencies, with the same coretube length, were the same as each other regardless of the gapʹs value. Their resonance frequencies were complexly correlated with the geometric parameters and initial conditions such as initial velocity and displacement. Increasing the outertubeʹs length by increasing the gap was the most important parameter in estimating the resonance frequency of the CNT-oscillator with an intertube gap between outertubes. Finally, we note that CNT-oscillators with intertube gaps can be applied as frequency-controlled oscillators by manipulating this gap.