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It is shown that a single-walled carbon nanotube based on a carbon monolayer
(graphene) rolled up into a cylinder is a nanoscale quantum system characterized by the
presence of electron crystals, like graphene. In contrast to the extremely unstable graphene
quantum system, the nanotube quantum system is stable at a certain curvature of the carbon
skeleton. The curvature causes the redistribution of π electrons between internal and external
electron crystals accompanied by the formation of additional one-dimensional or quasi-onedimensional
crystals of pairs of π* electrons excited into a higher 3s2pz energy state and
located on the nanotube external side. The stability of the nanotube quantum system and its
unusual physical properties are due to these crystals of π* electron pairs.
Keywords: carbon nanotubes, electron crystals, nanoscale quantum systems, ballistic conductivity |
full paper (pdf, 1456 Kb)