Low Energy Properties of the (n,n) Carbon Nanotubes

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that (n,n) carbon nanotubes, traditionally considered metallic, become Mott insulators due to electron interactions and exhibit superconducting fluctuations when doped.

Contribution

It reveals the impact of electron-electron interactions on the electronic properties of (n,n) carbon nanotubes, showing a transition from metallic to Mott insulating behavior and potential superconductivity.

Findings

(n,n) nanotubes are Mott insulators due to electron interactions

Doping induces superconducting fluctuations in nanotubes

Electron-electron interactions significantly alter nanotube electronic properties

Abstract

According to band theory, an ideal undoped (n,n) carbon nanotube is metallic. We show that the electron-electron interaction causes it to become Mott insulating with a spin gap. More interestingly, upon doping it develops superconducting fluctuations.