Carbon nanotubes under electron irradiation: Stability of the tubes and their action as pipes for atom transport

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.71.241408· OSTI ID:20719066

Banhart, F; Li, J X ^[1]; Krasheninnikov, A V ^[2]

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1. Institut fuer Physikalische Chemie, Universitaet Mainz, D-55099 Mainz (Germany)
2. Accelerator Laboratory, P.O. Box 43, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki (Finland)

The production and migration of carbon interstitials in carbon nanotubes under electron irradiation is studied experimentally and theoretically. It is shown that the threshold for displacing carbon atoms and the defect production rate strongly depend on the diameter of the nanotubes. Multiwalled nanotubes shrink by a loss of atoms and by diffusion of interstitials through the inner hollow in the axial direction. Thus, experimental evidence is given that nanotubes can act as nanoscale pipes for the transport of atoms.

• OSTI ID: 20719066
• Journal Information: Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 71, Issue 24; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.71.241408; (c) 2005 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ATOM TRANSPORT
ATOMS
CARBON
DIFFUSION
ELECTRONS
INTERSTITIALS
IRRADIATION
NANOTUBES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
STABILITY