Properties of Nonpolar Fluids inside a Carbon Nanotube

S. Sh. Rekhviashvili and E. V. Kishtikova

Kabardino-Balkar State University, Nalchik, 360004 Russia

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Received July 14, 2009

Abstract — A simple criterion for the capillary filling of a nanotube with a nonpolar fluid is formulated; The efficient surface tension of the nanotube frame is estimated (~0.05 N/m). The dynamics of the fluid inside the nanotube is studied. The potential of the atom interaction with nanotube walls is found in a continuous approximation. The conclusion on the boundary slipping of fluid near hydrophobic nanotube walls is made, which explains the experimentally observed superfast flow. Using the Gibbs equation, we derive and solve the differential equation for the dimensional dependence of the interfacial tension of a fluid inside a nanotube under equilibrium conditions. It is shown that a reduction in the nanotube radius leads to a decrease in the interfacial tension.