Structural stabilities and uniaxial strain modulated electronic properties of AlN/SiC-core-shell nanowires: A first-principles study

► Structural stabilities and electronic properties of AlN/SiC-core-shell nanowires are calculated by a first-principles study. ► AlN wants to sit on the outside of SiC due to the lower surface energy. ► The band gaps of all four CSNWs clearly decrease with increasing compressive strain. ► These results provide a way to modulate electronic properties of CSNWs and are very useful for the applications of the CSNWs.