Schottky barriers at metal-finite semiconducting carbon nanotube interfaces

Electronic properties of metal-finite semiconducting carbon nanotube interfaces are studied as a function of the nanotube length using a self-consistent tight-binding theory. We find that the shape of the potential barrier depends on the long-range tail of the charge transfer, leading to an injection barrier thickness comparable to half of the nanotube length until the nanotube reaches the bulk limit. The conductance of the nanotube junction shows a transition from tunneling to thermally-activated transport with increasing nanotube length

A non-equilibrium equation-of-motion approach to quantum transport utilizing projection operators

We consider a projection operator approach to the non-equilbrium Green function equation-of-motion (PO-NEGF EOM) method. The technique resolves problems of arbitrariness in truncation of an infinite chain of EOMs, and prevents violation of symmetry relations resulting from the truncation. The approach, originally developed by Tserkovnikov [Theor. Math. Phys. 118, 85 (1999)] for equilibrium systems, is reformulated to be applicable to time-dependent non-equilibrium situations. We derive a canonical form of EOMs, thus explicitly demonstrating a proper result for the non-equilibrium atomic limit in junction problems. A simple practical scheme applicable to quantum transport simulations is formulated. We perform numerical simulations within simple models, and compare results of the approach to other techniques, and (where available) also to exact results.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure

Born Oppenheimer Dynamics Near Metal Surfaces

We discuss the usefulness of Born-Oppenheimer potential surfaces for nuclear dynamics for molecules strongly coupled to metal surfaces. A simple model demonstrating the construction of such surface for a molecular junction is discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure