Electronic structures of BC3 nanoribbons

Using first principles calculations, we investigate the electronic structures of BC3 nanoribbons. We find that BC3 nanoribbons show a rich variety of electronic properties. The BC3 nanoribbons with the armchair shaped edges are all semiconductors, while BC3 nanoribbons with the zigzag shaped edges are semiconductors or metals depending on the edge atoms. The metallicity of BC3 nanoribbons with the zigzag shaped edges is attributed to the pi bonds formation between boron and carbon atoms and the lack of the carbon hexagons in the edge zigzag line.