Tunable electric conductivities of Au-doped boron nitride nanotubes

Tunable electronic properties of nanotubes are an essential requirement for building nanotube circuits and devices. We have produced BN nanotube films with controlled electric conductivities by Au doping. The Au -doped BN nanotube films have been found to exhibit from semiconducting to metallic behavior under different Au contents. Both experimental and computing simulation studies reveal that the conductivities of the doped film are improved by the incorporation of Au atoms into nanotube walls. The doped BN nanotubes and films are expected to have potential applications in catalysts, sensors and nanoelectronics.