A XANES characterization of structural defects in single-walled carbon nanotubes

Structural defects play an important role in the physics of carbon nanototube. However, very few investigations of the structural changes induced by purifying process and other treatments have been performed by means of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. We used XANES spectroscopy to detect the presence of defects induced in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by nitric acid treated processes and by an Ar+ ion bombardment. The relationship between the features in XANES spectrum and the structural defects has been discussed systematically. Data also addresses evidence of oxygen effect induced by aging on nanotubes.