High Bias Voltage Transport in Metallic Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes under Axial Stress

TL;DR

This paper investigates how axial stress affects electron transport in metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes, revealing strain-induced energy gaps and negative differential conductance at certain bias voltages.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of current-voltage behavior in strained metallic nanotubes, highlighting the impact of strain-induced gaps on transport properties.

Findings

Strain opens an energy gap in the nanotube spectrum.

Negative differential conductance occurs at bias voltages around 0.17 V.

Current decreases significantly under axial stress in the elastic regime.

Abstract

We calculate the current-voltage characteristic of a homogeneously strained metallic carbon nanotube adsorbed on a substrate. The strain generates a gap in the energy spectrum leading to a reduction of the current. In the elastic regime, the current-voltage characteristic shows a large negative differential conductance at bias voltages of around $ \gtrsim 0.17 $V. We discuss the implications for the current in the superelongated regime.