Nanotube Slidetronics.

Abstract

One-dimensional slidetronics is predicted for double-walled boron-nitride nanotubes. Local electrostatic polarization patterns along the body of the nanotube are found to be determined by the nature of the two nanotube walls, their relative configuration, and circumferential faceting modulation during coaxial interwall sliding. By careful choice of chiral indices, chiral polarization patterns can emerge that spiral around the nanotube circumference. The potential usage of the discovered slidetronic effect for low-dimensional nanogenerators is briefly discussed.