The initial flow dynamics of light atoms through carbon nanotubes
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Cannon, James
Kim, Daejoong
Hess, Ortwin
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes are becoming increasingly viable as membranes for application in a wide variety of nano-fluidic applications, such as nano-scale nozzles. For potential applications that utilize switching on and off of flow through nanotube nozzles, it is important to understand the initial flow dynamics. Furthermore, when the nanotube interacts strongly with the fluid, the flow may be very different from conventional simulations, which consider atoms (such as argon, for example) that interact only weakly with the nanotube. Therefore, to better understand such flows and explore the potential manipulation of flow that can be achieved, we consider the initial flow dynamics of a light fluid through carbon nanotube nozzles, using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Our studies show that if the conditions are controlled carefully, unusual phenomena can be generated, such as pulsed flow and very nonlinear increases in flow rate with nanotube diameter. We detail the physical reasons for such phenomena and describe how the pulsation can be controlled using temperature.
Version
Accepted version
Date Issued
2011-03-16
Citation
Fluid Dynamics Research, 2011, 43 (2)
Publisher
IOP Science
Journal / Book Title
Fluid Dynamics Research
Volume
43
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Fluid Dynamics Research. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0169-5983/43/2/025507
Identifier
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/o.hess
Source Volume Number
43
Subjects
Fluid dynamics
Computational physics
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
UK
Article Number
025507