Modification of carbon nanotubes wettability by ion irradiation

This paper presents the results of experiment to change wettability of commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) Taunit-MD after irradiation with 120 keV Ar$^+$ ions with various fluences. Using the Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the structure of the irradiated MWCNTs was investigated and X-ray microanalysis was carried out. The dependences of the average diameter of the MWCNTs, the concentration of O$_2$ in the samples, and the defectiveness of the MWCNTs on the irradiation fluence, as well as their effect on the wettability angle with distilled water, ethylene glycol and cyclohexane are considered. The possibility and prospects of using ion-beam modification methods for the controlled change of the wetting angle in order to create a hydrophobic or hydrophilic MWCNTs coating to various types of liquids are discussed.