The effects of ball milling process on the diameter dependent fracture of single walled carbon nanotubes

The effect of ball milling process on the fracture of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) is investigated using gel electrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy. A comparative Raman spectroscopy analysis, performed on the migrated nanotubes in the gel, shows that large diameter tubes are cut shorter and move faster in the gel. The D peak of Raman spectrum increases after an extended operation of the ball milling process, while that of the ultrasonicated nanotubes does not show an apparent change.