Electronic structure and transport properties of carbon nanotube adsorbed with a copper chain

Abstract

The authors have studied the electronic structure and transport properties of hybrid nanowires made of a copper chain adsorbed on a single-wall carbon nanotube (CNT) using first principle methods. Results have shown that after the adsorption of the Cu chain, the density of states and the transmission coefficients of the CNT (5, 5)/Cu nanowire have been increased, while the band gap of CNT (10, 0)/Cu have been significantly reduced. These results imply that the conductivity of CNTs, either metallic or semiconducting, have been enhanced by the adsorption of a copper chain. These hybrid nanowires with enhanced conductivity may be suitable for nanoelectronics. © 2013 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.