Chapter 2 Epoch-Making Simulation

Large Scale Simulations for Carbon Nanotubes
Project Representative

Syogo Tejima

Research Organization for Information Science & TechnologyAuthors

Syogo Tejima* , Satoshi Nakamura* , Yoshiyuki Miyamoto* , Yoshikazu Fujisawa* and1Hisashi Nakamura*1123*1 Research Organization for Information Science & Technology (RIST)*2 R&D Unit Central Res. Labs. Green Innovation Research Laboratories, NEC Corporation*3 Honda R&D Co., Ltd
CARBON NANOTUBE RESEARCH GROUP

Morinobu Endo, Eiji Osawa, Atushi Oshiyama, Yasumasa Kanada, Susumu Saito,Riichiro Saito, Hisanori Shinohara, David Tomanek, Tsuneo Hirano, Shigeo Maruyama,Kazuyuki Watanabe, Takahisa Ohno, Yutaka Maniwa, Yoshikazu Fujisawa,
Yoshiyuki Miyamoto, Hisashi Nakamura
Nano carbon materials as nanotube and fullerene have a potential for applications to the advanced industries. For nano carbon
materials, it has been recognized that large-scale simulation is a powerful and efficient tool to find and create new functional nanocarbon materials.
Aiming at conducting the productive simulation for nano-materials, we have developed the large-scale simulation models such astight-binding molecular dynamic model, ab-initio density functional theory (DFT), and time-dependent DFT model.
In this term, by utilizing these models effectively, we have studied various physical properties of nano-carbon and applications
such as (1) Novel Functions of Mackay Crystal, (2) Structural relaxation of Nano Diamond, (3) Large-scale Simulation on ElectronConduction in Carbon Nanotubes at Finite Temperature, (4) Application of time-dependent density functional theory for irradiationof strong optical field on nano-carbons. Along these works, we have realized that the Earth Simulator is a very powerful tool forlarge-scale nano-material simulations.
Keywords: Large scale simulation, TB theory, ab initio theory, Time-dependent DFT, Carbon Nanotube, Fullerenes, Green energy,
solar cell, photoelectric material

1. Introduction

In this term, we have carried out simulation studies, inNano-carbon materials have been expected to bringwhich there are three primary objectives as (1) design ofbreakthrough to material science and nanotechnology. A lot ofinnovative nonmaterial with the required properties; (2) obtain

potential applications of nanotube and fullerene to electronic

fundamental properties in nano-scale matter, and (3) develop

devices have been attracted to scientists and engineers.

new applications.

In the present days, large-scale numerical simulation by

2. Physical studies on nano materials
2.1 Novel Functions of Mackay Crystal [1]using supercomputer's computational performance has turned to
be a very efficient tool and leverage for investigating their novel

The comprehensive simulation has been conducted so far on

material properties. It now allows us to simulate complex nano-properties of the Mackay crystal, focusing on synthesis process

structures with more than ten thousand atom of carbon.
Aiming at using large-scale simulations on the Earththrough atomic arrangement of GSW and mechanical properties

Simulator, we have developed an application package ofas stiffness, etc.. As Mackay crystals, it is well known that there

ab initio DFT theory and parameterized tight-binding (TB)

are three different sizes and types. The crystal is classified as P,

models. Especially, the TB model shows that it is very suitableD, G-types, by the atomistic bonding configuration of hexagon

for the very large systems even if it has a lack of symmetricalor octagon on the surface curvature of the unit cell.
In this term, focusing P type crystal, the dependency ofarrangement.
119Annual Report of the Earth Simulator Center April 2009 - March 2010energy band gap on the crystal size has been investigated thoughin Figs. 1-3. These show that the band gaps are ranged fromsimulating the electronic band structure by DFT model.

0.05eV to 0.94 eV and the electron density depends on theThis result indicates that Mackay crystal has a potential forsize of atomic unit cell. The peak of electron density appears

highly efficient photoelectric material for solar cell. The energy

at octagon bonding and the lowest at hexagon in the direction

band structures and electron density distribution are shownto (111). It is the reason why the intrinsic electron density

Fig. 1 Energetically optimized structure of P48 zigzag Mackay crystal and energy band structure.

Fig. 2 Energetically optimized structure of P144 zigzag Mackay crystal and energy band structure. The color
represents number of electrons, which decreases in the order of yellow and red.

Fig. 3 Energetically optimized structure of P192 armchair Mackay crystal and energy band structure. The
color represents number of electrons, which decreases in the order of yellow, red and aqua.

120Chapter 2 Epoch-Making Simulation

distribution and band gap are due to the existence of octagon

and pressure dependence. The relaxation simulation has madeforming the negative curvature of Mackey crystal.

on two sizes of nano-diamond by using DFT model. The initial

Absorbable wavelengths of sun light depend on the energy

structure is set in truncated octahedron and the number of atoms

band gap of the photo-electric material. By stacking Mackey

is 147 and 413 .

crystal films with the different size, a tandem-type solar cell has

The structure of before- and after- relaxation are shown inbeen designed conceptually, which would be able to absorb theFigs. 4 and 5 for C147 and C413 , respectively. It shows that thesun light with near infrared light. As the next step, the feasibility

surface layer of the (111) is graphitized with sp2 bond. The

study of Mackey crystals for solar cell will be made by large-

area of graphite layer increases as the size of the nano-diamondscale simulations.

increases. The direction (100) consists of the diamond structurewith sp3 bond. The mixing state of sp2 and sp3 bonds is expected

2.2 Structural relaxation of Nano Diamond

to generate the polarized electric fields with functional elements.

Recently the fragment-diamond transformed into carbon-

The polarized nano-diamond might be one of the functional

onions, so called as nano-diamond, was synthesizedelements for the drug delivery system or some fields. As a next

experimentally. Some researches & developments have been

step, large-scale simulation will be carried out on nano-diamondmade by modifying the nano-diamond chemically to dispersewith thousand atoms.

or gel in solution for a drug delivery system. Presently there

2.3 Large-scale Simulation on Electron Conduction in
Carbon Nanotubes at Finite Temperature [2]is no information on the characteristics of the surface of nanodiamond that leads us to select the adequate molecules toAccording to Moore's law, which states that the number

chemical modification.
For reliable and accurate simulations, DFT simulations haveof transistors in integrated circuit (IC) will double every 18

been carried out to describe the properties on size, temperaturemonths, the rapid development of ICs has to a large extent

Fig. 4 C147 octahedral nanodiamond structure before (left) and after (right) the relaxation simulation.

Fig. 5 C413 octahedral nanodiamond structure before (left) and after (right) the relaxation simulation.

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Fig. 6 (a) shows a schematic view of the system under consideration. Figures 1 (b), (c), and (d) show our simulation results under three different
conditions: (b) The line connecting two electrode-junctions is not parallel to the axis of CNT. (c) Under the identical condition as Fig. (a)except for the existence of a defect in the CNT. (d) Many electrodes are attached on the CNT.

been enabled due to the improvement of a transistor design

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are considered attractive candidates

based on Silicon. By scaling down dimensions, the silicon-for new technologies that could take the place of the silicon-based technologies have been pushed close to its physicalbased electronic.

limits as soon as the end of this decade. Therefore it becomes

It is still difficult, however, to manipulate CNTs

crucial to develop technologies that will enable continued

experimentally; and besides the macroscopic Ohm's law breaks

implementation of increasingly higher performance devices.

down due to the various effects caused by the microscopic
size effect. In this context, it is necessary to study the transport
behavior of CNTs using a quantum mechanical simulation. We
have developed a simulation code by which electron transport
simulations of nano- and meso-scale CNTs can be performed.
We focused on the system under consisting of two semi-infinite
electrodes and a scattering region sandwiched between theseelectrodes (see Fig. 6 (a)).
Using non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) technique,we obtain the following expression for electron current from j1site to j2 site.
π∑ t j ξ j ξ ({R})∫{ f (ω – μ R) – f (ω – μ L)}×r (ω){–iГ (ω)}G a (ω) ]∑ Re [GCC( j ,ξ ,σ)( j ,ξ ,σ ) dω,CCJj → j = e
1Fig. 7 CPU time versus the number of carbon atoms

12222 21 1

ξ 1ξ 2σL

1122

Chapter 2 Epoch-Making Simulation

with– i Г L (ω) = Σ r (ω) – Σ a (ω),
LL

a defect in the CNT, circular current decreases. When manyI CC
GCC ( z) =,z I CC – H CC – Σ L (z) –Σ R (z)1Σ L ( z) = H CL
H ,z – H LL LC
1
Σ R ( z) = H CR
Hz–HRR RC .

of the CNT and circular current does not occur.

electrodes are attached on the CNT, current flows along the axis
Finally, CPU time versus the number of carbon atoms isshown in Fig. 7. One can see that our simulation code achieves
the order (N) algorithm with respect to the size of the system.
The sustained performance of 13 Tera flops was achieved, andthe computing efficiency was seventeen percent of the peak

Here Hcc is the matrix describing the scattering region

performance.

sandwiched between electrodes. ΣL is the self-energy of the lefthand side electrode, and ΣR the self-energy of the right-handbecomes the most heavy part of the model computationally. An

2.4 Application of time-dependent density functional
theory for irradiation of strong optical field on nanocarbons [3]embedding potential algorithm is implemented to obtain theIn this term, we discovered field enhancement insideside. In this scheme, the large-dimensional matrix inversion
to calculate the Green's function in the scattering region

nanotube and pulse-laser induced exfoliation of graphene fromequilibrium and non-equilibrium Green's functions.
Since the NEGF technique is also applicable to calculate

graphite surfaces. These phenomena suggested the possibility

the density of electrons, we determined NEGF self-consistentlyof efficient photo-fabrication of nano-carbons with controlled

together with Poisson equation. The substitute charge methodmanners. This term, we further investigated these two subjects.

is considered to be a simple and effective method to solve theAs for the exfoliation of graphene from graphite surface,

Poisson equation. The positions of substitute charges, however,we searched more efficient process, i.e., faster exfoliation withare empirically determined. Therefore, in our solution method,lower energy cost of laser-shot, by tuning the shape of pulse

both the positions and the values of charges are determinedlaser in the time-axis. Last year, the assumed wavelength of theso that the differences of the potentials on boundary arelaser was 800 nm, and pulse width was 45 fs. In this year, weleast in a sense of the least square method. In this case, thejust shorten the pulse width as 10 fs and compared the dynamicsimplementation of least square method is made with Davidon-shown in Fig. 1.
When we further shorten the pulse width, nothing happened

Fletcher-Powell algorithm.

on the surface. Therefore, we believe that the pulse width as 10

These figures 6 (b), (c), and (d) show our simulation results

fs is optimized for graphene exfoliation which should be tested

at 300 (K). The arrows represent the electron current in CNTs

by experiments in future.

From figures 6 (b), (c), and (d), one can find the following
results: When the line connecting two electrode-junctions is not

As for the photochemistry of molecule inside carbon

parallel to the axis of the CNT, circular current occurs. On thenanotube, we rely on experience of last year which was theother hand, under the same condition except for the existence

enhancement of the electric field (E-field) inside semiconducting

Fig. 8 Time evolution of heights of graphene layers (10-layer slab model having two surfaces on top and bottom) after irradiationof laser shot (a) with wavelength 800 nm, pulse width = 45 fs, and power per shot is about 87.9 mJ/cm2, (b)with the same
wavelength, pulse width 15 fs, and power 20 mJ/cm2.

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Annual Report of the Earth Simulator Center April 2009 - March 2010

Fig. 9 Disintegration of an HCl molecule inside an (8,0) nanotube induced by very short pulse.

nanotube. We thus expect that trapping molecule inside

References

semiconducting nanotube can make light illumination to[1] S. Tejima, et al, Journal of the Surface Science Society ofmolecule more efficient. We tested photo-induced disintegration

Japan, HYOMEN KAGAKU, vol.30, no.12, pp.673-679,
2009.

of an HCl molecule inside an (8,0) nanotube.

[2] S. Nakamura, SC09, HCPNano09 Workshop, Oregon,

Figure 9 shows the geometrical time-evolution of an HClNovember 15.

molecule inside an (8,0) nanotube after giving very short[3] S. Miyamoto, et al, Phys. Rev. lett., Vol.104, pp.208302-1-pulse shot with wavelength 800 nm, pulse width is 1 fs and208302-4 (2010).

maximum intensity of E-field is 12 V//Å. (Such an extremely
high E-field is available only at such very short pulse.) One cannote spontaneous disintegration of HCl molecule and an ejected
H atom is sticking nanotube wall, so the H atom is expected
to reflect from the wall. According to our preliminary test, thenanotube itself is sustainable under such short pulse with thesame field-intensity, but show significant shaking motion. We
therefore think further simulation is needed to check whether
the nanotube can remain and to check trajectory of reflected Hatom. We believe this simulation will design efficient photochemical processes using encapsulation of molecules insidecarbon nanotubes.

3. SUMMARY
Large-scale simulations have been carried out on
nonmaterial by using ab initio density functional theory and theparameterized tight-binding models. These optimized models
allowed us to simulate the properties with excellent performanceon the Earth Simulator. It enables us to come across discoveriesof novel phenomena in nano scale and find out some usefulmaterials for clean energies.

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Chapter 2 Epoch-Making Simulation

カーボンナノチューブの特性に関する大規模シミュレーション
プロジェクト責任者

手島正吾

高度情報科学技術研究機構

著者

手島正吾 * ，中村1

賢 * ，宮本1

良之 * ，藤沢2

義和 * ，中村3

壽*1*1 高度情報科学技術研究機構*2 NEC R&D ユニット 中央研究所 グリーンイノベーション研究所*3 本田技術研究所
1. 研究目的
優れた物性が予想されナノテクの基本材であるナノ炭素類（カーボンナノチューブ（CNT）、フラーレン、グラフェン）の電子・機械特性を従来不可能だった大規模シミュレーションにより推定し、科学技術及び産業界に提供すると共に、応用として特性の優れた新構造を発見し、基本材の拡充に寄与する目的で実施された。
2. 成果
これまで、我が国のナノチューブ研究で当面する課題解決に向けた応用シミュレーションを実施した。本年度さらに、グリーンエネルギーに関するシミュレーションを推進した。得られた結果を以下に示す。
（1）これまでマッカイ結晶の包括的な特性把握のために、合成法、機械特性などのシミュレーションを実施してきた。
本年度は、電子構造特性のシミュレーションにより、マッカイ結晶が太陽電池材料としての可能性があることが示せた。サイズが異なる単位セルにそれぞれ 48、144、192 個の炭素をもつ P 型マッカイ結晶のエネルギーバンド構造を第一原理計算で調べたところ、0.05eV から 0.94eV のエネルギーギャップを持つこと、原子が中性電荷からずれていることが明らかとなった。これらの理由は、マッカイ結晶がもつ負のガウス曲面を維持するために基本となる6 員環構造に 8 員環が混じり、特殊な電荷ポテンシャルが生じたためである。異なるバンドギャップをもつ積層半導体マッカイ結晶は、応用として、広範囲の波長の光吸収を可能とする、高効率太陽が期待される。
（2）タマネギ型構造をもち表面が活性で特徴的性質をもつナノダイヤモンドが合成されゲル状の分散が可能となった事から、ドラックデリバリーシステムなどへの応用も進められている。この構造体はダイヤモンドクラスターの構造最適化により得られるが、分子化学修飾が可能な表面の性質は未だ詳細に得られていない。DFT 計算手法により、ナノダイヤモンドのサイズ依存性を、147、413 原子について調べた。その結果、（111）方向は sp2 結合による黒鉛化し、（100）方向は sp3 結合によるダイヤモンド構造であることが明らかとなった。サイズが大きくなると黒鉛層が大きくなる。sp2 と sp3 の混在により、ナノダイヤモンドの電荷偏極が発生していると予測される。電荷偏極したナノダ
イヤモンドはドラックデリバリーシステム等への機能材料の一つと期待される。さらに大きなナノダイヤモンドの特性把握シミュレーションを予定している。
（3）電子デバイスとしてシリコンを使った微細加工は限界に達している。カーボンナノチューブは次世代の電子デバイスとして期待されている。しかし、未だカーボンナノチューブを実験で操作することは困難であるが、オームの法則からなずれなどの量子効果が観測されている。ナノスケールの伝導特性を把握する事は重要である。非平衡グリーン関数法により、各原子から原子への電子の流れの計算手法を開発した。代用電荷法でポアソン方程式の電荷分布を再現した。カーボンナノチューブに流れる電流の微細な様子はワーヤー電極の着ける位置、本数で代わり、条件によっては渦電流の発生が確認された。また、不純物効果も扱う事もできた。コード性能評価により、計算量は原子数に比例するオーダー N であり、大規模計算が可能である事を確認した。
（4）次世代電子材料として期待されるグラフェンの製造方法に関する知見をシミュレーションから得た。グラフェンの純度を損なわないように、化学物質の天下は行わず、グラファイト表面にフェムト秒レーザー照射を行うことにより、表面からの原子一 層分のグラフェンをはがせることが、第一原理計算より判明した。
キーワード : 大規模シミュレーション , タイトバインディング理論 , 時間依存密度汎関数法 , オーダー N 法 ,カーボンナノチューブ , マッカイ構造 , ナノダイヤモンド , 量子伝導 , グラファイト加工技術

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