The effects of 2 MeV Ag ion irradiation on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were irradiated using 2 MeV Ag2+ ions with fluences 1 x 10(15) and 1 x 10(16) ions/cm(2). The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The graphene structure of the nanotube wall is found to be damaged upon irradiation. Although at a fluence of 1 x 10(15) ions/cm(2) the outer morphology of the samples remain unchanged, samples irradiated with a fluence of 1 x 10(16) ions/cm(2) show complete destruction of the graphene structure. The amorphous structure produced due to irradiation is found to show an increased number of sp(3) hybridized carbon atoms. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.