Preferred synthesis of armchair transition metal dichalcogenide nanotubes

A Abid (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) L Luneng Zhao (Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.) J Ju Huang (Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China) Y Yongjia Zheng (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) Y Yuta Sato (Research Institute of Core Technology for Materials Innovation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan.) T Tianyu Wang D Dmitry Levshov (Theory and Spectroscopy of Molecules and Materials, Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.) L Lingfeng Wang (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) Q Qingyun Lin (Center of Electron Microscopy, State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) Z Zhen Han (College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.) C Chunxia Yang (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) B Bill Herve Nduwarugira (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) Y Yicheng Ma (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) Y Yige Zheng (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) H Hang Wang (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) S Salman Ullah (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) A Afzal Khan (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) Q Qi Zhang W Wenbin Li (College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China.) J Junfeng Gao (Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.) B Bingfeng Ju (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) F Feng Ding Y Yan Li W Wouter Herrebout (Theory and Spectroscopy of Molecules and Materials, Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.) K Kazu Suenaga (SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan.) S Shigeo Maruyama (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) H Huayong Yang (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) R Rong Xiang (State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.) H Haiming Sun (SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan.)

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 are formed with high yield and structural purity inside boron nitride nanotube channels. Atomic-resolution imaging, electron diffraction, and circular dichroism reveal an armchair preference up to 83%. Density functional theory rules out structural stability as the origin of this preference but confirms that zigzag nanoribbons are energetically more stable. Machine learning potential molecular dynamics simulate that zigzag nanoribbons roll up to form armchair nanotubes, a process that is subsequently observed by in situ transmission electron microscope. This work may inspire the achievement of on-demand synthesis of various nanotubes with specific chiralities.

Article Details

Journal Science
Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 16, 2026
ISSN 0036-8075
Publisher American Association for the Advancement of Science

Journal Info

Science

American Association for the Advancement of Science

ISSN: 0036-8075 Social Sciences

Authors (29)

A

Abid

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

L

Luneng Zhao

Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.

J

Ju Huang

Department of Materials Science and Engineering & Key Laboratory of 3D Micro/Nano Fabrication and Characterization of Zhejiang Province, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China

Y

Yongjia Zheng

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Y

Yuta Sato

Research Institute of Core Technology for Materials Innovation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan.

T

Tianyu Wang

D

Dmitry Levshov

Theory and Spectroscopy of Molecules and Materials, Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

L

Lingfeng Wang

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Q

Qingyun Lin

Center of Electron Microscopy, State Key Laboratory of Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Z

Zhen Han

College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.

C

Chunxia Yang

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

B

Bill Herve Nduwarugira

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Y

Yicheng Ma

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Y

Yige Zheng

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

H

Hang Wang

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

S

Salman Ullah

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

A

Afzal Khan

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

Q

Qi Zhang

W

Wenbin Li

College of Life Science, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, China.

J

Junfeng Gao

Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Ministry of Education, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.

B

Bingfeng Ju

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

F

Feng Ding

Y

Yan Li

W

Wouter Herrebout

Theory and Spectroscopy of Molecules and Materials, Department of Physics and Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

K

Kazu Suenaga

SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan.

S

Shigeo Maruyama

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

H

Huayong Yang

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

R

Rong Xiang

State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.

H

Haiming Sun

SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research), Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan.