Electron Microscopy Investigation of Structural Transformation of Carbon Black under Influence of High-Energy Electron Beam

Abstract

Nanocapsules and stacks of graphene sheets have been prepared from carbon black by irradiation relativistic electron beam. Electrons with energy of 2.5 MeV were used in these experiments to produce carbon nanoparticles with graphite-like structure of the graphene layers. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy were used to obtain the information about morphology, crystallinity, and interlayer distance of these nanostructures.

Keywords:

• carbon black
• relativistic electron beam
• transmission electron microscopy
• nanocapsules
• graphene sheets

Acknowledgements

This work was performed using equipment of the Center of Collective Usage of the Omsk Scientific Center, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge for funding from the grant ENSOR FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES № 269267.