Origin of torsion-induced conductance oscillations in carbon nanotubes

K. S. Nagapriya, Savas Berber, Tzahi Cohen-Karni, Lior Segev, Onit Srur-Lavi, David Tománek, Ernesto Joselevich

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32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We combine electromechanical measurements with ab initio density-functional calculations to settle the controversy about the origin of torsion-induced conductance oscillations in multiwall carbon nanotubes. Contrary to intuition, the observed oscillation period in multiwall tubes exhibits the same inverse-squared diameter dependence as in single-wall tubes with the same diameter. This finding suggests an intrawall origin of the oscillations and an effective electronic decoupling of the walls, which we confirm in calculations of multiwall nanotubes subject to differential torsion. We exclude the alternative origin of the conductance oscillations due to changes in the interwall registry, which would result in a different diameter dependence of the oscillation period.

Original languageEnglish
Article number165417
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume78
Issue number16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Oct 2008

Funding

National Science Foundation under NSF-NSEC [425826, ECS-0506309]We thank A. Yoffe and S. R. Cohen for assistance with the clean room and AFM, respectively. This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation, the Kimmel Center for Nanoscale Science, the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Minerva Stiftung, and the Djanogly, Alhadeff, and Perlman foundations. K. S. N. acknowledges the Feinberg Graduate School for support. D. T. and S. B. were supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF-NSEC Grant No. 425826 and NSF-NIRT Grant No. ECS-0506309.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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