Modifications of Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene using Ion Beam Technology

The high effectiveness of swift heavy ions (SHI) and slow highly charged ions (HCI) for nanostructuring of various materials has been demonstrated. The uniqueness of this method is linked to the fact that the generation of nanostructures is a direct process and does not require any additional chemical and/or physical treatment. This exceptional property is considered as a significant advantage compared to lithographic methods requiring integral effects of many photons or electrons. We propose to study the consequence irradiations of aligned and randomly oriented single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and graphene thin films with SHI and HCI. The localized ion-induced electronic excitation, provided by SHI and HCI of different energies and fluences, is capable of modifying the physical properties and structure of SWCNTs and graphene. In addition, it can lead to develop a new process for the creation of SWCNTs and graphene based hybrid structure. The presence of highly energetic ions cannot be ignored in space environment. Therefore study of ion induced modifications of SWCNTs is essential for all possible space applications using SWCNTs and graphene. Furthermore modifications in graphene structure due to ion irradiation are useful in some applications like, to tailor the local properties of graphene and achieve new functionalities. SWCNTs and graphene thin films will be prepared at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and irradiated in different geometries with SHI of various kinetic energies and fluences at the UNILAC accelerator facility of GSI, Darmstadt and Tandem accelerator facility at HZDR, Dresden. The HCI irradiation will be executed at the EBIT (Electron Beam Ion Trap, HZDR). After ion-irradiation samples will be investigated using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), optical spectroscopy, electrical conductivity measurements at KFUPM. The outcome of this research project promises to impact various applications of SWCNTs and graphene. This is mainly originating from the ability of ion beam in tailoring the induced effect of both nanomaterial in controlled way, which is achievable by understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for the created modifications by SHI and HCI.