Electronic properties of ultra-thin aluminum nanowires

We have carried out first-principles electronic structure and total energy calculations for a series of ultrathin aluminum nanowires, based on structu res obtained by relaxing the model wires of Gulseren et al. [Phys. Rev. Let t. 80 (1998) 37751. The number of conducting channels is followed as the wi res radius is increased. The results suggest that pentagonal wires should b e detectable, as the only ones who can yield a channel number between 8 and 10. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.