Influence of chirality on the electron transmission through step-like potential in zigzag, armchair, and (2m,m) carbon nanotubes

TL;DR

This study analytically investigates how chirality affects electron transmission in various carbon nanotubes with step-like potentials, revealing intermediate transport behaviors in certain chiral configurations.

Contribution

The paper provides an analytical solution for electron spectra and transmission in achiral and chiral nanotubes, highlighting the influence of chirality on transport properties.

Findings

Chiral nanotubes show intermediate transmission characteristics.

Transmission coefficients depend on nanotube band structure.

Chirality influences electron transport in nanotubes.

Abstract

We report the one-electron spectrum and eigenstates of infinite achiral and chiral $(2m,m)$ carbon nanotubes found by using the analytic solution to the Schr\"odinger equation for the tight-binding H\"uckel-type Hamiltonian. With the help of matching the wave functions on the interfaces between the regions, where electrons have different site energies, we find and compare the transmission coefficients for zigzag, armchair and chiral nanotubes subjected to the action of an applied step-like potential. The correspondence between the nanotube band structure and the energy dependence of the transmission coefficient is demonstrated. It is shown that the $(2m,m)$ nanotubes with a medium chiral angle reveal intermediate transport properties as compared with the achiral armchair, and zigzag nanotubes.