Investigation of the initial stages of defect formationin carbon nanotubes under irradiation with argon ions

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The formation of defects in carbon nanotubes under irradiation with argon ions is investigated. The π plasmons generated in single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes are examined using electron energy-loss spectroscopy. In the course of experiments, the supramolecular structure of nanotubes is stepwise modified by an argon ion beam (the maximum irradiation dose is 360 μC/cm 2 ). The content of argon ions implanted into a nanotube structure is controlled using Auger electron spectroscopy. The effect of ion irradiation on the π-plasmon energy E π and on the half-width at half-maximum δ E of the π-plasmon spectrum is determined experimentally. An expression relating the above quantities and the concentration of implanted argon is derived. It is shown that the formation of defects under ion irradiation is a discontinuous process occurring in a stepwise manner. A qualitative phenomenological interpretation is proposed for the experimentally revealed decrease in the π-plasmon energy E π and for its attendant broadening of the π-plasmon spectrum. The assumption is made that the microscopic mechanism of the observed phenomena is associated with the narrowing of the energy π subbands in the electric field of charged defects generated by ions.