Carbon nanotubes are famous for their many extraordinary properties. We use a thermodynamical approach, experimental data from the literature, and atomistic simulations to reveal one more remarkable property of the carbon nanotubes that has so far been overlooked. Namely, we predict the existence of very large elastocaloric effect that can reach up to 30 K under moderate loads. Potentially even larger values could be achieved under extreme loads, putting carbon nanotubes in the forefront of caloric materials. Other remarkable features of the elastocaloric effect in carbon nanotubes include linearity of elastocaloric temperature change in applied force (compressive or stretching), very weak dependence on the temperature, and an absence of hysteresis. Such features are extremely desirable for practical applications in cooling devices. Moreover, a similarly large elastocaloric effect is predicted for the graphene. The prediction of a large elastocaloric effect in carbon nanotubes and graphene sets forward an unconventional strategy of targeting materials with moderate caloric responses but the ability to withstand very large loads.
Keywords: Carbon nanotubes; atomistic simulations; elastocaloric effect; graphene.