Step-edge faceting and local metallization of a single-wall semiconducting carbon nanotube

The adsorption of a single-wall carbon nanotube on a well-defined metal surface produces substantial mutual interaction that can lead to strong effects both on the nanotube and on the substrate side. We report two kinds of step faceting on Au(111) and Cu(111). We observed local metallization of a semiconducting nanotube induced by the deformation pressure of crossing a step edge on Cu(111). The origin of this effect is discussed. Our results illustrate the complexity and the large number of situations encountered for the nanotube-on-metal system.