Space confinement and rotation stress induced self-organization of double-helix nanostructure: A nanotube twist with a moving catalyst head

Meng Qiang Zhao, Qiang Zhang, Gui Li Tian, Jia Qi Huang, Fei Wei

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inorganic materials with doublehelix structure have attracted intensive attention due to not only their elegant morphology but also their amazing morphology-related potential applications. The investigation on the formation mechanism of the inorganic double-helix nanostructure is the first step for the fundamental studies of their materials or physical properties. Herein, we demonstrated the space confinement and rotation stress induced self-organization mechanism of the carbon nanotube (CNT)-array double helices under scanning electron microscopy by directly observing their formation process from individual layered double hydroxide flakes, which is a kind of hydrotalcite-like material composed of positively charged layers and charge-balancing interlayer anions. Space confinement is considered to be the most important extrinsic factor for the formation of CNT-array double helices. Synchronous growth of the CNT arrays oppositely from LDH flakes with space confinement on both sides at the same time is essential for the growth of CNT-array double helices. Coiling of the as-grown CNT arrays into double helices will proceed by self-organization, tending to the most stable morphology in order to release their internal rotation stress. Based on the demonstrated mechanism, effective routes were carried out to improve the selectivity for CNT-array double helices. The work provides a promising method for the fabrication of double-helix nanostructures with their two helices connected at the end by self-assembly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4520-4529
Number of pages10
JournalACS Nano
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 22 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Keywords

  • Carbon nanotube
  • Double helix
  • Layered double hydroxide
  • Rotation stress
  • Space confinement

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