Magic gold nanotubes

Abstract

In recent ultra-high-vacuum transmission-electron-microscopy experiments evidence is found for the formation of suspended gold single-wall nanotubes (SWNTs) composed of five helical strands. Similar to carbon nanotubes, the (n,m) notation defines the structure of the gold SWNTs. Experimentally, only the (5,3) tube has been observed to form among several other possible alternatives. Using first-principles calculations we demonstrate that gold atoms can form both freestanding and tip-suspended, chiral, single-wall nanotubes. Although freestanding, infinite (5,5) tube is found to be energetically the most favorable, the experimentally observed (5,3) tube, suspended between two tips, corresponds to a local minimum in the variation of string-tension with the radius of the structure, which explains the experimental finding. Similarly, we predict the (4,3) tube as a favorable structure yet to be observed experimentally. Analysis of band structure, charge density, and quantum ballistic conductance suggests that the current on these nanowires is less chiral than expected, and there is no direct correlation between the numbers of conduction channels and helical strands. © TÜBİTAK.