Exploring the Electronic and Mechanical Properties of TPDH Nanotube: Insights from Ab Initio and Classical Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Tetra–Penta–Deca–Hexa graphene (TPDH) is a new two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotrope with attractive electronic and mechanical properties. It is composed of tetragonal, pentagonal, decagonal and hexagonal carbon rings. When TPDH graphene is sliced into quasi-one-dimensional (1D) structures such as nanoribbons, it exhibits a range of behaviors, from semimetallic to semiconducting. An alternative approach to achieving these desirable electronic properties (electronic confinement and nonzero electronic band gap) is the creation of nanotubes (TPDH-NTs). In the present work, we carried out a comprehensive study of TPDH-NTs combining Density Functional Theory (DFT) and classical reactive Molecular Dynamics (MD). Our results show structural stability and a chiral dependence on the mechanical properties. Similarly to standard carbon nanotubes, TPDH-NT can be metallic or semiconductor. MD results show Young’s modulus values exceeding 700 GPa, except for nanotubes with very small radii. However, certain chiral TPDH-NTs (n, m) display values both below and above 700 GPa, particularly for those with small radii. Analysis of the evolution of von Mises stress and the distribution of C–C bond angles and lengths throughout the stress–strain process indicates the important role of tetragonal, pentagonal, and hexagonal rings for the mechanical response of TPDH-NTs. Tetragonal and pentagonal rings provide a rigid mechanical framework for TPDH-NTs (n, 0), whereas pentagonal and hexagonal rings provide TPDH-NTs (0, n) with greater flexibility.