Curvature induced magnetic nanonodes in (6, 0) SiC/C nanotube heterojunction superlattice

The zigzag (n, 0) (n=6–10) SiC/C nanotube superlattices are investigated by using the first-principles calculations. Our calculations indicate that the (n, 0) (n=7–10) SiC/C nanotube superlattices are semiconducting and non-magnetic. However, the (6, 0) SiC/C nanotube superlattice shows magnetic property with 2.0μB magnetic moments due to the curvature effect. The spin densities distribute periodically along the axial direction and mainly locate at the CNT segment, thus forming the magnetic nanonodes. The proposed magnetic nanonodes offer a method to obtain the periodic magnetic structure and thus have potential applications in future nanoscale devices.