Nano electro mechanics of semiconducting carbon nanotube

The effect of a flattening distortion on the electronic properties of a semiconducting carbon nanotube is investigated through first-principles calculations. As a function of the mechanical deformation, electronic bandgap is reduced leading to a semiconductor-metal transition. However, further deformation reopens the bandgap and induces a metal-semiconductor transition. The semiconductor-metal transitions take place as a result of curvature-induced hybridization effects, and this finding can be applied to develop novel nano electro mechanical systems.