Current-induced forces in conducting and semiconducting carbon nanotubes

The forces induced by a steady electric current on several atoms, viz., B, C, N, O and F, adsorbed on metallic (5,5) and semiconducting (8,0) carbon nanotubes are calculated using the Non-Equilibrium Green's Function technique combined with density functional theory. We estimate how the current-induced forces will move the atoms along the tubes and we explain these results in terms of charge transfer, modification of the electron density, and chemical bonding properties of the scattering states.