Magnetic proximity effect in carbon nanotubes

Motivated by the possibility of combining spintronics with molecular structures, we investigate the conditions for the appearance of spin polarization in carbon nanotubes by contacting them to a magnetic substrate. We derive a set of general expressions describing the charge transfer between a tubular structure and the substrate as well as the relative energy costs. Using a tight-binding model for the electronic structure we are able to estimate the magnitude and the stability of the induced moment. This indicates that a significant induced magnetic moment in carbon nanotubes can be observed. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.