Tight-binding calculation of the elastic properties of single-wall nanotubes

We report theoretical predictions of the energetic, structural and elastic properties of single wall nanotubes. We shall discuss estimations of the Poisson ratio and Young modulus for C, BN, BC3 and BC2N nanotubes. We have focused attention on both arm-chair (n,n) and zig-zag (n,0) nanotubes, with n in the range 5 to 20. For the particular case of C nanotubes we have also considered a number of chiral examples. A brief outline of the theoretical methods will be given, followed by a discussion of the results obtained, paying particular attention to the elastic properties.