Thermal effects on interface structure during nanowelding

Nanowelding configuration under thermal effects is investigated with molecular dynamics method. The influence of single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) diameter and time on the interface structure is analyzed, and the detailed process is illustrated at 1530 K. Nanowires are observed in SWNT (6,6), (7,7), (9,9) as well as (11,11) at 13.8, 14.6, 17.5 and 19.6 ps respectively except for SWNT (5,5). These nanowires are composed of one or several Ni atom chains. The numbers of Ni atom chains for SWNT (6,6), (7,7), (9,9), (11,11) are 1, 3, 7 and 16 respectively. The interface structures of both inside nanowelding and outside nanowelding are also revealed. The critical diameter of inside nanowelding can be determined by SWNT (6,6) with a diameter of 0.814nm. As for outside nanowelding, a longer outside contact length can be obtained with a larger diameter of SWNT. The growth rate of the outside contact length increases with the diameter of SWNT. The maximal growth rate of the outside contact length is up to 0.013 nm/ps. The critical temperature of the interface structure is provided, which indicates the critical temperature of outside nanowelding is higher than that of inside nanowelding for the same diameter of SWNT, and the critical temperature is irrelevant to the diameter of SWNT.