Electronic and magnetic properties of metal atom adsorption on SWNT

The electronic structures and magnetic properties of metal (Cu, Ti) atom adsorption on the SWNT (metal/SWNT) were investigated. A model of electron transfer in metal/SWNT system without and under external electric field was proposed that may explain some experimental data. In addition, an explanation for the difference in the contact resistance between Cu/SWNT and Ti/SWNT was proposed. It was found that the Ti/SWNT system has a magnetic moment without electric field, but no magnetic moment when a certain value of electric field is applied, which provides a theoretical foundation for fabricating storage devices by such metal/SWNT structure. The results should be helpful to understand in depth the metal/SWNT and should also cover all the metal/SWNT structures. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.