TOPICAL REVIEW: Quantum effects in electrical and thermal transport through nanowires

Nanowires, point contacts and metallic single-wall carbon nanotubes are one-dimensional nanostructures which display important size-dependent quantum effects. Quantization due to the transverse confinement and resultant finite level spacing of electronic and phononic states are responsible for some novel effects. Many studies have revealed fundamental and technologically important properties, which are being explored for fabricating future nanodevices. Various simulation studies based on the classical molecular dynamics method and combined force and current measurements have shown the relationship between atomic structure and transport properties. The atomic, electronic and transport properties of these nanostructures have been an area of active research. This brief review presents some quantum effects in the electronic and phononic transport through nanowires.

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