Processing and electric property control of carbon nanotubes by low-energy electron irradiation

We have recently discovered that low-energy electron irradiation damages single-walled carbon nanotubes. This phenomenon can be exploited to achieve spatially selective removal of single-walled carbon nanotubes and control their electric properties over a wide range. The selective removal will make it possible to fabricate various nanotube architectures. The electric properties of metallic nanotubes can be converted to semiconducting, and further electron irradiation finally makes them insulating. It appears that these irradiation-induced changes in the electric properties are similar to those that would be expected if chirality were controlled.