Tunable electronic properties of ZnO nanowires and nanotubes under a transverse electric field

摘要

Using the density functional theory, we investigate the electronic properties of ZnO nanowires (NWs) and faceted nanotubes (NTs) under a transverse electric field. We find that the band gap of ZnO nanostructures tends to decrease as the electric field is increased, and the variation of the band gap is dependent upon the diameter and wall thickness. Furthermore, the applied electric field could induce semiconductor-metal transition and enhance the electron effective mass. These results provide a valuable guide for the future application of ZnO nanostructures in the field of microelectronic and optoelectronic materials and nanodevices.