PROPERTIES OF FULLERENE NANOTUBULES

Recent reports show that single graphitic tubules with diameters on th e order of fullerene diameters have been synthesized. We have examined both the electronic and structural properties of these materials usin g a range of methods. We have calculated the electronic structure of s everal graphitic tubules using a first-principles, self-consistent, al l-electron Gaussian-orbital based local-density functional (LDF) appro ach. We have found that the class of high-symmetry tubules we denote a s ''serpentine'' are metallic, with nonzero gaps for other finite radi us tubules. With potential electronic and structural applications, the se materials appear to be appropriate synthetic targets for the curren t decade.