Tensile Properties of Partially Unzipped Carbon Nanotubes

We have studied the tensile properties of partially unzipped carbon nanotubes. We have found that when the edge dangling bonds are not passivated partially, unzipped carbon nanotubes show diverse structural transformation behaviours at ambient temperatures. The dangling bonds tend to rebond under certain conditions, leading to structure back to the original carbon nanotube pattern and the speed of such self healing increases with rising temperature. When the cutting length is sufficiently large or the diameter of the original tube is small, the unzipped graphene end rolls up and forms various patterns, which is good agreement of previous theoretical and experimental work.