Due to their unusual electrical conductivity, carbon nanotubes as the ideal candidates for making future electronic components have extensive application potentiality. In order to meet the requirements in space electronic components for carbon nanotubes, effect of 170 keV proton irradiation on structure and electrical conductivity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) film is investigated in this paper. Surface morphologies and microstructure of the carbon nanotube films are examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, respectively. Electrical conductivities of the carbon nanotube films before and after 170 keV proton irradiation are measured using four-point probe technique. SEM analysis reveals that when proton irradiation fluence is greater than 5 × 1015 p/cm2, the surface of the carbon nanotube film becomes rough and loose, and obvious bending, shrinkage, and entanglement of nanotubes are observed. Moreover, the shrinkage phenomenon of MWCNTs caused by proton irradiation is found the first time so far as we know. Based on Raman and XPS analyses, it is confirmed that 170 keV protons can improve the ordered structure of the MWCNTs, and irradiation fluence plays a key role in reducing the disorder in the MWCNTs. Improvement of the irradiated MWCNTs by 170 keV protons can be attributed to restructuring of defect sites induced by knock-on atom displacements. On the other hand, carbon impurities on surface of the MWCNT film are reduced due to the effect of sputtering by the 170 keV proton irradiation, which is also helpful to the improvement of the structure of carbon nanotubes. EPR spectra show that the electrons delocalized over carbon nanotubes decrease with increasing irradiation fluence, implying that the carbon nanotube film is not sensitive to ionizing radiation induced by the 170 keV protons, and the electrical conductivities of the MWCNTs films may be decreased. Four-point probe technical analysis shows that with increasing irradiation fluence, electrical properties of the carbon nanotubes film deteriorate, which can be attributed to the changes in electronic properties and morphology of the MWCNT films induced by 170 keV protons. Acquired results could be beneficial to tailoring of structure and properties for the carbon nanotubes film irradiated by protons to develop nanoelectronics of radiation-resistant systems.
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