Electronic energy loss of protons and deuterons in multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Results of measurements of electronic energy loss for few keV protons and deuterons interacting with multi-walled carbon nanotubes are presented. Analyses of the energy loss distributions, for both type of ions, show a particular shape which is due to the cylindrical geometry of the nanotubes. These distributions can be explained in detail by a Monte Carlo simulation program that includes elastic and inelastic processes and the geometrical properties of the nanotubes. The electronic energy loss values obtained from this study are proportional to the ion velocity, but are lower than the corresponding values for amorphous carbon. This indicates that the ion-nanotube interaction is affected by the electronic and crystalline structure of the nanotubes. Comparisons with experimental values for different types of C targets and with recent theoretical calculations were also done. Graphical abstract