Load sharing and accumulated bond fracture in ion-irradiated carbon mat for energy dissipation.

Xiao, Kailu; Wu, Xianqian; Sang, Zhen; Subramanian, Vivek; Thomas, Edwin L · Sci Adv · 2024

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) aerogel mats were irradiated with carbon ions to explore the effect of irradiation-induced sp<sup>3</sup> bonds and sp<sup>2</sup> bond defects on ultrahigh strain rate mechanical properties. Energy dissipation was measured using a microprojectile impact test. Specific penetration energy [Formula: see text] increased strongly with irradiation with a maximum [Formula: see text] of ~26 megajoules per kilogram, over 200% higher than the previous best energy-absorbing material of pristine MWNT mats and at least an order of magnitude higher than any other material tested at the microscale. Perforation morphologies observed by electron microscopy show that a much larger network region is deformed due to sp<sup>3</sup> bond enhanced load sharing within and between tubes, while defects introduced by the radiation induce more bond, shell, and tube damage leading to strongly enhanced energy dissipation.