The electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube sheets by ion beam irradiation

A method for improving the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets by ion beam irradiation is reported. CNT sheets prepared by a vacuum filtration method were irradiated by Ar and H ion beams at different temperatures. The electrical conductivity of the irradiated CNT sheets at a temperature of 800 K can be improved. The conductivity improvement can be ascribed to the formation of covalent bond crosslinks between CNTs induced by the ion beam irradiation at the elevated temperature.