Systematic study of structural and conductive properties of copper nanotubes modified by ionizing radiation

In the modern materials science, irradiation by electron beams and by a γ-ray flux of metallic nanostructures is an effective tool for stimulating controlled modification of the structural and conductive properties of materials. The paper presents the results of investigation of the influence of various types of irradiation on the structural and conductive properties of copper nanotubes obtained by electrochemical synthesis in pores of template matrices based on polyethylene terephthalate. The SEM, XRD, and EDS methods established that irradiation by an electron beam and γ rays with doses of 50 and 100 kGy allows modifying the crystal structure of nanotubes, increasing their conductivity, and decreasing their resistance without destroying their structure. An increase in the irradiation dose leads either to an insignificant change in the conductive properties for high-energy electrons and γ quanta, or to a deterioration of the conductive properties due to the appearance of oxide compounds in the crystal structure and to subsequent destruction of samples.