Properties and structures of carbon nanotubes irradiation by ion beam

Ion beam irradiation is usually thought to induce defects and disordered structures in materials and then to destroy the properties of the materials. However, our recent experiments about the ion beam irradiation on carbon nanotubes (CNTs)indicate that the ion beam modification mechanism of CNTs is completely different from traditional one of bulk materials, and ion beam irradiation can lead to self-organized structures in CNTs, such as amorphous junctions and CNT junctions. Moreover, the irradiated CNTs exhibit a improved conductivity and an enhanced field emission. (authors)