Structures of double-wall carbon nanotubes with atomic-scale defects that could operate as nut-and-bolt pairs were analyzed. The relative thread depth of such pairs was calculated for various types of defect in the inner and outer walls of (4,6)-(12,8) and (8,2)-(16,4) double-walled carbon nanotubes. It was found that the type of defect determined only the absolute thread depth, but weakly influenced the relative thread depth. The possibility was proposed of producing, by self-organization, a double-walled carbon nanotube which could operate as a nut-and-bolt pair.

Bolt-and-Nut Pairs Made from Carbon Nanotubes with Artificial Defects. Y.E.Lozovik, A.G.Nikolaev, A.M.Popov: Fullerenes Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, 2006, 14[2-3], 227-31