Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Nanotubes represent an important class of crystalline materials, but controlling their structures, particularly chiralities, remains a fundamental challenge. In this work, we report a strategy for synthesizing transition metal dichalcogenide nanotubes with preferred armchair chirality. Tin disulfide, molybdenum disulfide, and tungsten disulfide nanotubes were formed with high yield and structural purity inside boron nitride nanotube channels. Atomic-resolution imaging, electron diffraction, and circular dichroism revealed an armchair preference up to 83%. Density functional theory ruled out structural stability as the origin of this preference but confirmed that zigzag nanoribbons are energetically more stable. Machine learning potential molecular dynamics simulated that zigzag nanoribbons roll up to form armchair nanotubes, a process that was subsequently observed by in situ transmission electron microscope. This work may inspire the achievement of on-demand synthesis of various nanotubes with specific chiralities.
Source: Science
Authors: Abid, Luneng Zhao, Ju Huang, Yongjia Zheng, Yuta Sato, Tianyu Wang, Dmitry Levshov, Lingfeng Wang, Haiming Sun, Qingyun Lin, Zhen Han, Chunxia Yang, Bill Herve Nduwarugira, Yicheng Ma, Yige Zheng, Hang Wang, Salman Ullah, Afzal Khan, Qi Zhang, Wenbin Li, Junfeng Gao, Bingfeng Ju, Feng Ding, Yan Li, Wouter Herrebout, Kazu Suenaga, Shigeo Maruyama, Huayong Yang, Rong Xiang
Institutions: State Key Laboratory Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Dalian University of Technology, Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Westlake University, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, The University of Osaka, University of Antwerp, State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Peking University, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Nagoya University, The University of Tokyo
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G7526812178
OpenAlex ID: W4417538477