A general frame for modeling the electrical propagation along graphene nanoribbons, carbon nanotubes and metal nanowires

A general frame is proposed to model the propagation of electrical signals along nano-interconnects, either made by carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoribbons or metal nanowires. In the typical operating conditions of the next generations of integrated circuits, the electrodynamics of the nano-interconnects may be conveniently described by means of a semi-classical transport model, based on the modified Boltzmann transport equation. From this model we derive here a generalized non-local dispersive Ohm’s law, which can be regarded as the constitutive equation for the material. From the knowledge of the conduction and valence subbands, it is possible to define an equivalent number of conducting channels, which affects the circuit parameters of such interconnects. The study of the dispersion introduced by the generalized Ohm’s law gives a clear explanation to the different propagation properties of nano-interconnects made by carbon materials and conventional metals.