Doping of C$_{60}$-induced electronic states in BN nanopeapods

Abstract

We report the results of \textit{ab initio} simulations of the electronic properties of a chain of C$_{60}$ molecules encapsulated in a boron nitride nanotube - so called BN-nanopeapod. It is demonstrated that this structure can be effectively doped by depositing potassium atoms on the external wall of the BN-nanotube. The resulting material becomes a true metallic one-dimensional crystal, where the conduction states are formed solely by the fullerene chain. At the doping rate of one K atom per C$_{60}$ molecule, the system shows the density of states at the Fermi level considerably higher than in any of the fullerene crystals presently made. This makes the doped BN-peapod structure an interesting candidate to study a possible superconducting state.