Purification/annealing of graphene with 100-MeV Ag ion irradiation

Study of Ion Velocity Effect on the Band Gap of CVD-Grown Few-Layer MoS2

The present work reports on a simple chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique that employs alkali halide (NaCl) to synthesize high-quality few-layer MoS2 by reducing growth temperature from 850 to 650 °C, and its ion irradiation study for band gap modification. The Raman peak position difference of A1g to E12g of ≈24.5 cm-1 for the synthesized MoS2 corresponds to a few layers (<5 monolayers) of MoS2 on the substrate, as also confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The optical image shows the continuous distribution of flakes throughout the substrate and the average area of flakes ≈0.2 μm2 as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Swift heavy-ion (SHI) irradiation at 60, 100, and 150 MeV ion energies of 1 × 1012 ions/cm2 ion fluence have been used to modify the band gap in few-layer MoS2. The ions with two different energies are chosen at two sides of the Bragg peak of energy loss curve in such a way as to have the same value of electronic energy loss (Se) but different ion energies to examine the velocity effect for the ion-induced modification. The absorbance peaks for 60 and 150 MeV irradiated samples show the same effect in the band gap modification.

Response of Bilayer and Trilayer Graphene to High-Energy Heavy Ion Irradiation

High-energy heavy ion irradiation is a very useful tool for the nanostructuring of 2D materials because defects can be introduced in a controlled way. This approach is especially attractive for the mass production of graphene nanomembranes when nanopore size and density can easily be tuned by ion irradiation parameters such as ion energy and applied fluence. Therefore, understanding the basic mechanisms in nanopore formation due to high-energy heavy ion impact is of the highest importance. In the present work, we used Raman spectroscopy to investigate the response of bilayer and trilayer graphene to this type of irradiation. Spectra obtained from graphene samples irradiated with 1.8 MeV I, 23 MeV I, 3 MeV Cu, 18 MeV Cu, and 12 MeV Si beams were analysed using the Lucchese model. It was found that the efficiency of damage production scales strongly with nuclear energy loss. Therefore, even for the most energetic 23 MeV I beam, the electronic energy loss does not contribute much to damage formation and ion tracks are unlikely to be formed.

Are two-dimensional materials radiation tolerant?

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have many unique properties, which can be exploited in various applications. In particular, electronic devices based on 2D materials should ideally be suited for the operation in outer cosmic space due to their low weight, small size and low power consumption. This brings about the issue of their radiation hardness, or tolerance, which has recently been addressed in a number of studies. The results of these investigations are somewhat counterintuitive: although one can naively expect that atomically thin structures should easily be destroyed by the beams of energetic particles, the devices made from 2D materials were reported to exhibit extraordinary radiation hardness. In this Focus article, an overview of the recent studies on the subject is given, followed by the discussion of the origin of the reported high tolerance, which is inherently related to the response of 2D materials, the systems with the reduced dimensionality, to irradiation. The analysis of the experimental and theoretical data on the behavior of 2D systems under irradiation indicates that although free-standing 2D materials can indeed be referred to as radiation resilient systems under irradiation conditions corresponding to the outer space, this is generally not the case, as the environment, e.g., the substrate, can strongly influence the radiation tolerance of 2D materials and devices based on these systems.

2D Material Science: Defect Engineering by Particle Irradiation

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are at the heart of many novel devices due to their unique and often superior properties. For simplicity, 2D materials are often assumed to exist in their text-book form, i.e., as an ideal solid with no imperfections. However, defects are ubiquitous in macroscopic samples and play an important ⁻ if not imperative ⁻ role for the performance of any device. Thus, many independent studies have targeted the artificial introduction of defects into 2D materials by particle irradiation. In our view it would be beneficial to develop general defect engineering strategies for 2D materials based on a thorough understanding of the defect creation mechanisms, which may significantly vary from the ones relevant for 3D materials. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in defect engineering of 2D materials by electron and ion irradiation with a clear focus on defect creation on the atomic scale and by individual impacts. Whenever possible we compile reported experimental data alongside corresponding theoretical studies. We show that, on the one hand, defect engineering by particle irradiation covers a wide range of defect types that can be fabricated with great precision in the most commonly investigated 2D materials. On the other hand, gaining a complete understanding still remains a challenge, that can be met by combining advanced theoretical methods and improved experimental set-ups, both of which only now begin to emerge. In conjunction with novel 2D materials, this challenge promises attractive future opportunities for researchers in this field.

Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation as a Tool for Homogeneous Dispersion of Nanographite Platelets within the Polymer Matrices: Toward Tailoring the Properties of PEDOT:PSS/Nanographite Nanocomposites

Performance of the polymer nanocomposites is dependent to a great extent on efficient and homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles in polymeric matrices. The dispersion of nanographite platelets (NGPs) in polymer matrix is a great challenge because of the inherent inert nature of the NGPs, poor wettability toward polymer matrices, and easy agglomeration due to van der Waals interactions. In the present study, attempts have been made to use a new approach involving the irradiation of polymer nanocomposites through swift heavy ion (SHI) to homogeneously disperse the NGPs within the polymer matrices. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (

PEDOT

PSS)/nanographite nanocomposite (NC) films prepared by the solution blending method were irradiated with SHI (Ni ion beam, 80 MeV) at a fluence range of 1 × 10(10) to 1 × 10(12) ions/cm(2). XRD studies revealed that ion irradiation results in delamination and better dispersion of NGPs in the irradiated nanocomposite films compared to unirradiated films, which is also depicted through SEM, AFM, TEM, and Raman studies. In the irradiated polymer nanocomposite films, the conformation of PEDOT chains changes from coiled to extended coiled structure, which, along with homogeneously dispersed NGPs in irradiated NCs, shows an excellent synergistic effect facilitating charge transport. The remarkable improvement in conductivity from 1.9 × 10(-2) in unirradiated NCs to 0.45 S/cm in irradiated NCs is observed with marked improvement in sensing the response toward nitroaromatic vapors at room temperature. The temperature induced conductivity studies have been carried out for

PEDOT

PSS/nanographite NCs to comprehend the charge transport mechanism in NC films using the 3D Mott variable range hopping model also. The study reveals SHI as a novel method, addressing the challenge associated with the dispersion of NGPs within the polymer matrix for their enhanced performance toward various applications.

Effect of grain size and microstructure on radiation stability of CeO2: an extensive study

To investigate the variation in the radiation stability of ceria with microstructure under the electronic excitation regime, ceria samples sintered under different conditions were irradiated with high energy 100 MeV Ag ions. The ceria nanopowders were synthesized and sintered at 800 °C (S800), 1000 °C (S1000) and 1300 °C (S1300), respectively. The samples with widely varying grain size, densities and microstructure were obtained. The pristine and irradiated samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). None of the samples amorphized up to the highest fluence of 1 × 10(14) ions per cm(2) employed in this study. XRD and Raman studies showed that the sample with lowest grain size suffered maximum damage while the sample with largest grain size was most stable and showed little change in crystallinity. Raman spectroscopy indicated the enhanced formation of Ce(3+) and related defects in the sample with larger grain size after irradiation. The most intriguing result was the absence of Ce(3+)-related defects in the sample with lowest grain size which actually showed maximum damage upon irradiation. The XPS studies on S800 and S1300 provided concrete evidence for the presence of Ce(3+) and oxygen ion vacancies in S1300. The grain boundaries and grain size dependent stability have been discussed.