title: Structural characteristics of nanocrystalline copper after carbon ion implantation.
abstract: A gradient structure was produced in a pure copper plate by means of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). The microstructure of the surface layer was reduced to nanoscale and the grain size increased gradually along the depth of the treated sample. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observation was performed on the nanocrystalline copper after implantation of carbon. Carbon atoms first precipitated along the edges of the copper substrate or at the surface, then formed amorphous carbon layers. Subsequently, onion-like fullerenes were formed under electron-beam irradiation. The effects of ion implantation, electron beam irradiation, nanostructure of the substrate and interaction of C and Cu atoms on the formation of the onion-like fullerenes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Technology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Wan-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Hua-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Li-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Guo-Dong
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hai-Xiang
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Bing-She
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D007477:Ions; D002244:Carbon; D003300:Copper