Purification of Carbon Nanotubes by Proton Irradiation

POSTER

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit variety of superior physical properties including well-defined nanodimensional structure, high electrical and thermal conductivity, and good mechanical stability against external irradiations. Further, a large specific surface area per unit weight suggests that carbon nanotubes could be excellent candidates for gas storage, purification, and separation. However, the practical application of CNTs is limited mainly due to the metallic impurities that were used as a catalyst during the fabrication process. Here, we irradiated CNTs by using high energy proton beams (35.7 MeV at the Bragg Peak). Interestingly, metallic impurities such as Fe, Ni, Co and chunk of amorphous carbon that were attached on the surface of CNTs were completely removed after the irradiation. The mechanism of such the purification process is not understood. The possible speculation will be demonstrated combined with the changes of physical properties including the appearance of the magnetism after the irradiation.

Authors

  • Euikwoun Kim

    Department of Physic, Hanyang University, Seoul, Koera

  • Jeonggil Lee

    Department of Physic, Hanyang University, Seoul, Koera, Department of Physics, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

  • Younman Lee

    Department of Physic, Hanyang University, Seoul, Koera

  • Jaekyun Jeon

    Department of Physic, Hanyang University, Seoul, Koera

  • Jae-yong Kim

    Department of Physic, Hanyang University, Seoul, Koera, Department of Physics, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

  • V.E. Guiseppe

    University of Connecticut, Univ. of New Hampshire, Sandia National Labs, IBM Research Center, PTB, TUNL, Petersburg Nuc. Phys. Inst., Yale Univ., U.S. Coast Guard Acad., Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3046, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Division of Proton Engineering Frontier Project, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea, Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea, Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, NY 11973, Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, RMD Inc., Watertown, MA, ALEM Associates, Boston, MA, Physics Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, University of South Dakota, LANL

  • V.E. Guiseppe

    University of Connecticut, Univ. of New Hampshire, Sandia National Labs, IBM Research Center, PTB, TUNL, Petersburg Nuc. Phys. Inst., Yale Univ., U.S. Coast Guard Acad., Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3046, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Division of Proton Engineering Frontier Project, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea, Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea, Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, NY 11973, Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, RMD Inc., Watertown, MA, ALEM Associates, Boston, MA, Physics Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, University of South Dakota, LANL

  • V.E. Guiseppe

    University of Connecticut, Univ. of New Hampshire, Sandia National Labs, IBM Research Center, PTB, TUNL, Petersburg Nuc. Phys. Inst., Yale Univ., U.S. Coast Guard Acad., Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3046, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Division of Proton Engineering Frontier Project, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea, Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea, Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, NY 11973, Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, RMD Inc., Watertown, MA, ALEM Associates, Boston, MA, Physics Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, University of South Dakota, LANL

  • V.E. Guiseppe

    University of Connecticut, Univ. of New Hampshire, Sandia National Labs, IBM Research Center, PTB, TUNL, Petersburg Nuc. Phys. Inst., Yale Univ., U.S. Coast Guard Acad., Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3046, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, Division of Proton Engineering Frontier Project, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea, Department of Chemistry, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea, Materials Science Department, Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, NY 11973, Canadian Light Source, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, Department of Physics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, RMD Inc., Watertown, MA, ALEM Associates, Boston, MA, Physics Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, University of South Dakota, LANL