Simulations of irradiation-induced effects in carbon nanostructures

The irradiation of solids with energetic particles such as electrons or ions is associated with disorder, normally an undesirable phenomenon. However, recent experiments on bombardment of carbon nanostructures with energetic particles demonstrate that irradiation can have beneficial effects and that electron or ion beams may serve as tools to change the morphology and tailor mechanical, electronic and even magnetic properties of nanostructured carbon systems, and first of all, carbon nanotubes.