Defect healing and enhanced nucleation of carbon nanotubes by low-energy ion bombardment

E. C. Neyts, K. Ostrikov, Z. J. Han, S. Kumar, A. C.T. Van Duin, A. Bogaerts

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

Structural defects inevitably appear during the nucleation event that determines the structure and properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes. By combining ion bombardment experiments with atomistic simulations we reveal that ion bombardment in a suitable energy range allows these defects to be healed resulting in an enhanced nucleation of the carbon nanotube cap. The enhanced growth of the nanotube cap is explained by a nonthermal ion-induced graphene network restructuring mechanism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number065501
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume110
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 5 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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