Abstract
We perform the density-functional and quantum chemical calculations of adsorption of a hydrogen molecule to various kinds of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT’s). The potential energy barrier height (PBH) for the dissociative adsorption of a hydrogen molecule onto the outer wall of a nanotube decreases as the tube diameter decreases. In contrast, the PBH for penetration into an open-ended nanotube increases as the tube diameter decreases, independent of the atomic geometry, i.e., zigzag or armchair structures. however, cannot adsorb to the inner wall of any type of nanotube. These results on the structure-dependent adsorption to SWNT’s are reasonably explained by the rehybridization caused by the interaction between the adsorbing hydrogen and carbon atoms of SWNT’s.
- Received 7 July 2000
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.63.155405
©2001 American Physical Society