Charge distribution and stability of charged carbon nanotubes.

Density-functional calculations of charge distribution on negatively and positively charged nanotubes result in charge density profiles characterized by a significant increase of charge density at the tube ends. These results are in quantitative agreement with classical electrostatic analysis, which assumes constant electrostatic potential on the conductive tube surface. At high charging levels, the tube ends are observed to be unstable due to Coulomb repulsion. By combining ab initio calculations with classical electrostatics, we determine, as a function of tube length and geometry of the tube end, the critical voltage beyond which nanotubes are unstable.