Irradiation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with High-Energy Protons

Morphological changes in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) upon bombardment with 3MeV protons were monitored by transmission electron microscopy in a wide range of irradiation doses. Evident morphological alterations were observed at >0.1 mC, such as curving of the nanotubes, a loss of their straight shape, and formation of short pieces. During further irradiation (doses approaching 1 mC) SWNTs degraded into an amorphous material, although a significant fraction of them were present as pieces of different lengths.