Formation of Multi-Walled Nanotubes from Diamond Nanowires

Based on classical molecular dynamics simulation, we show the possibility of the formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes from diamond nanowires at elevated temperatures. Since the outermost shell of a diamond nanowire can be regarded as a corrugated graphene sheet bound via elongated intershell bonds, thermal annealing of the nanowire causes successive peeling of the outermost shell and results in a structural transformation from an sp³ structure into an sp² rich nanostructure. The resultant structures could be classified as multi-walled carbon nanotubes with some stacking faults. ©2010

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