Tailoring properties of carbon-nanotube-based foams by ion bombardment
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
Particle irradiation is an effective method for manipulating properties of individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This potential, however, remains unexplored for macroscopic assemblies of cross-linked CNTs. Here, we study structural and electrical properties of ultralow-density cross-linked CNT-based nanofoams exposed to ion irradiation at room temperature over a wide range of ion masses and fluences. For all irradiation conditions studied, the electrical resistance of nanofoams initially increases with a rate that scales with the number of ballistically generated displacements. This process is attributed to the buildup of defects in graphitic nanoligaments. Irradiation with Ne and heavier ions leads to a decrease in the electrical resistance at large fluences, which is attributed to radiation-induced foam densification. In addition, heavy-ion bombardment causes amorphization of CNTs and smoothing of ligament surfaces. These results demonstrate that ion bombardment can be used for tailoring density, ligament morphology, and electrical properties of CNT-based foams.
- OSTI ID:
- 22080427
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 101, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Radiation induced effects on mechanical properties of nanoporous gold foams
A linked-scale coupled model of mass erosion and redistribution in plasma-exposed micro-foam surfaces