Conical surface structures on model thin-film electrodes and tape-cast electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries

A computationally-effective approach for calculating the electromechanical behavior of SWNTs and MWNTs of the dimensions used in nano-electronic devices has been developed. It is a mixed finite element–tight-binding code carefully designed to realize significant time saving in calculating deformation-induced changes in electrical transport properties of the nanotubes. The effect of the MWNT diameter and chirality on the conductance after mechanical deformation was investigated. In case of torsional deformation, results revealed the conductance of MWNTs to depend strongly on the diameter, since bigger MWNTs reach the buckling load under torsion much earlier, their electrical conductivity changes more easily than in small diameter ones. For the same outer diameter, zigzag MWNTs are more sensitive to twisting than armchair MWNTs since the hexagonal cells are oriented in such a way that they oppose less resistance to the buckling deformations due to torsion. Thus small diameter armchair MWNTs should work better if used as conductors, while big diameter zigzag MWNTs are more suitable for building sensors.