Mwcnt Structure Modification At He:O Plasma Treatment

The structure and properties of the individual multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) subjected to He:O plasma treatment (250 W) have been studied by means of SEM and IR-spectroscopy. It is shown that plasma treatment causes formation of extended defects and oxidation of graphene layers in the MWCNT`s walls. In this case, rounded craters up to 50 nm in size are formed on the surface of the nanotubes. The increment of treatment time leads to formation of graphene belts. The results of numerical modeling indicate the possibility of multivacancy defects formation in the structure of graphene planes by means of carbon atoms substitution.