The effect of electron irradiation on structural properties of cobalt nanotubes

Cobalt nanotubes were fabricated by template synthesis in the pores of track membranes based on polyethylene terephthalate; modified by electron irradiation; and studied by scanning electronic microscopy, energy-dispersive analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that the resistivity of Co nanotubes dropped by 16.7 and 21.6% after electron irradiation with a dose of 50 and 100 kGy, respectively. It was demonstrated that the change in conductive properties is associated with the rearrangement of crystal structure after electron irradiation owing to the suppression of influence of the metastable $\beta$-Co phase and an increase in the degree of texturing in the $\langle$100$\rangle$ direction.