Anomalous electrostatic potential properties in carbon nanotube thin films under a weak external electric field

Abstract

Using density functional theory, we studied the electronic properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) thin films under an electric field. The carrier accumulation due to the electric field depends strongly on the CNT species forming the thin films. Under a low electron concentration, the injected electrons are distributed throughout the CNTs, leading to an unusual electric field between CNTs, the direction of which is opposite to that of the applied field. This unusual field response of CNT thin films to an external electric field is ascribed to the internal electric field arising from the electrostatic potential difference between the constituent CNTs.