Van der Waals and Casimir interactions between
atoms and carbon nanotubes


Abstract. The van der Waals and Casimir interactions of a hydrogen atom (molecule) with a single-walled and a multiwalled carbon nanotubes are compared. It is shown that the macroscopic concept of graphite dielectric permittivity is already applicable for nanotubes with only two or three walls. The absorption of hydrogen atoms by a nanotube at separations below one nanometer is considered. The lateral force due to exchange repulsion moves the atom to a position above the cell center, where it is absorbed by the nanotube because the repulsive force cannot balance the van der Waals attraction.

http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0802/0802.1276v1.pdf


and to combine that with how the membranes are held together

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_membrane

could the resonant energy upon the lipids be what holds the bilayers together without peptide bonds?

Considerable recent attention has been focused on applications of the van der Waals and Casimir forces in nanotechnology. When the characteristic sizes of microdevices shrink below a micrometer, the collective quantum phenomena caused by the existence of zeropoint oscillations of the electromagnetic field come into play. At separations below 100 nm the role of physical phenomena originating from vacuum oscillations (primarily of the van der Waals and Casimir forces) can match the role of characteristic electric
force and may even become dominant.

looks good