On the Evaluation of the Number of Conducting Channels in Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

The correct evaluation of the number of conducting channels in multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is essential in view of the derivation of accurate equivalent circuit models for electrical nanointerconnects made by this innovative material. The authors have recently proposed an approach to evaluate this number for a single CNT shell that takes properly into account its chirality, diameter, and temperature. In this letter, we use this approach to evaluate the number of channels in an MWCNT and compare its results to the existing literature. It is found that so far, the number of conducting channels has been sensibly overestimated by 25%-40% at room temperature.