The Effect of Ion Irradiation Fluence on the Structure of Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes with Different Diameters

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with different initial diameters have been irradiated with accelerated He ions in the fluence range from to ion/cm . Raman scattering showed that the number of defects and amorphicity of MWCNTs rapidly increase with increasing fluence. The change in the mean diameter of MWCNTs depending on the irradiation fluence is shown. The change in the nature of this dependence for different initial diameters of the nanotubes is discussed. Sputtering of nanotubes has been simulated. It is shown that the value of the sputtering yield is in good agreement with the experimentally measured values of the mean diameter of the nanotubes.