Investigation of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes as Antennas in the Subterahertz Range

In this paper, we investigate the performance of a multiwall Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) as an antenna in the subterahertz range. To this end, a circuit model for the transverse structure is proposed and derived for the MWCNT, which is valid as long as the applied wavelength is much longer than the diameter of the MWCNT. Using this model, the modal equation of the axial propagation constant is derived, and the antenna radiation characteristics are obtained. In addition we study a bundle of MWCNT's as an antenna with higher radiation efficiency. Numerical examples show that the radiation resistance of a λ/2 antenna can be comparable to normal metallic antenna.