Deformation of elastic nanotubes via self-assembly of surface-adhesive nanoparticles

Elastic sheets with macroscopic dimensions are easy to mould by bending and stretching. Yet shaping nanometric sheets by mechanical manipulation is hard. In this talk I will show that nanoparticle self-assembly could be used to this end. I will demonstrate by Monte Carlo simulation that spherical nanoparticles adhering to the outer surface of an elastic nanotube can self-assemble into linear structures as a result of curvature-mediated interactions. We find that nanoparticles arrange into rings or helices on stretchable nanotubes, and as axial strings on nanotubes with high rigidity to stretching. These self-assembled structures are inextricably linked to a variety of nanotube profiles, which can be controlled by tuning the concentration of nanoparticles and their adhesion strength. Our results open the possibility of designing nanoparticle-laden tubular nanostructures with tailored shapes, for potential applications in materials science and biomedical fields.