Effect of the kinetic energy on particle ejection process from carbon nanotubes bombarded by kilo-electron-volt C60

Abstract

Molecular dynamics computer simulations are employed to investigate processes leading to particle ejection from single-wall carbon nanotubes bombarded by keV C60 projectiles. The effect of the primary kinetic energy, the incidence angle, and the nanotube diameter on the ejection process is studied. Armchair nanotubes with diameters of 3.26, 5.4, and 8.2 nm are tested. C60 projectiles bombard these targets with kinetic energy between 3 and 50 keV and the angle of incidence ranging between 0° and 75°. The particle ejection yield is a result of the interplay between the amount of kinetic energy available for breaking interatomic bonds, the size of the bombarded area, and the size and form of projectiles hitting this area. Much of the initial kinetic energy is dissipated in the nanotubes as waves, especially for low-energy impacts. Computer simulations are used to find the optimal conditions leading to the gentle ejection of unfragmented organic molecules adsorbed on nanotube substrates. This knowledge may be helpful in the potential application of nanotube substrates in secondary ion mass spectrometry or secondary neutral mass spectrometry.