Nanohinge-Induced Plasticity of Helical Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Helical carbon nanotubes with intentionally incorporated non‐hexagonal defects have unexpectedly high toughness and plasticity, in addition to the well‐recognized extreme elasticity. The obtained toughness approaches 5000 J g−1 with decreasing spring radius. The high toughness originates from the plastic nanohinge formation as a result of distributed partial fractures. A strong spring size effect, contradictory to the continuum solution, is precisely described by an atomistic bond‐breaking model.