INTERACTIONS OF CARBON-NANOTUBULE PROXIMAL PROBE TIPS WITH DIAMOND AND GRAPHENE

Interactions between proximal probe tips composed of carbon nanotubule s (CNTs) and diamond and graphene surfaces are investigated using mole cular dynamics simulations. The simulations reveal the mechanisms of b uckling, bending, slipping, and elastic recovery of the CNT tips on th ese surfaces and suggest that they will not wear out when crashed as c onventional tips often do unless the surface is highly reactive. The s imulations also show how the deformation mechanism changes as a functi on of tubule length and the effect of these changes on the buckling fo rce is discussed quantitatively.