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Modification of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube arrays using electron irradiation induced oxidation

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Abstract

This paper describes a method of altering the compliance and adhesion of nominally vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays (“turfs”) using oxidation caused by electron irradiation from typical imaging conditions in a scanning electron microscope. A combination of electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy demonstrates that typical imaging conditions lead to the deposition and further oxidation of amorphous carbon on CNT turfs. The elastic modulus of the turfs, as measured by nanoindentation, decreases from approximately 100 to 50 MPa after irradiation and exposure to ambient laboratory conditions. The adhesion between the diamond indenter tip and turf is effectively eliminated once the amorphous carbon coated the turfs. In addition, the CNT turf exhibits decreased energy dissipation capabilities and a decreased viscoelastic response during contact loading. This suggests that further research on characterization of CNT turfs should consider the possibility that electron beam exposure during imaging may impact the subsequently measured properties, and that to lessen these effects, imaging times and accelerating voltages should be minimized.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the financial support of the National Science Foundation under the NIRT program, Grant CMMI-0856436 and discussions with Prof. David Field and Prof. Sinisa Mesarovic of WSU. TEM experiments were performed at the Franceschi Microscopy and Imaging Center, Washington State University, and the assistance of Steven Klase and Prof. Ursula Mazur at WSU with the FTIR analysis is greatly appreciated.

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  1. Anqi Qiu

    Present address: Nanomechanics Research Laboratory, Hysitron, Inc., 9625 West 76th St., Minneapolis, MN, 55344, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99163, USA

    Anqi Qiu

  2. School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, 701 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2045, USA

    David F. Bahr

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  1. Anqi Qiu
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  2. David F. Bahr
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Correspondence to Anqi Qiu.

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Qiu, A., Bahr, D.F. Modification of the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube arrays using electron irradiation induced oxidation. Meccanica 50, 575–583 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-014-9956-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11012-014-9956-3

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