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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Recent experiments [1] on ion and electron irradiation of carbon nanostructures demonstrate that beams of energetic particles may serve as tools to change the morphology and tailor mechanical, electronic and even magnetic properties of nanostructured carbon systems, and first of all, carbon nanotubes. We systematically study irradiation effects in carbon nanotubes and other forms of nano-structured carbon experimentally and theoretically by employing atomistic computer simulations using various models ranging from empirical potentials to time-dependent density functional theory. In this presentation, I will briefly review the recent progress in our understanding of electron- and ion-irradiation-induced phenomena in nano-structured carbon and present our recent theoretical [2,3] and experimental [4] results. In particular, I will report our recent calculations of the electronic stopping power in nanostructures carried out within the framework of time-dependent density-functional theory [2]. Throughout the presentation I will emphasize the "beneficial" role of irradiation and irradiation-induced defects and impurities in carbon and boron-nitride nanotubes and related systems.
[1] For an overview, see A.V Krasheninnikov, F. Banhart, Nature Materials, 6 (2007) 723.
[2] A.V Krasheninnikov, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 99 (2007) 016104,
[3] A. Tolvanen et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 91 (2007) 173109.
[4] O. Lehtinen et al., to be published.