Modification and shaping of carbon nanotubes with an electron beam

The paper reviews the modification and shaping of electron beam irradiation on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as well as how this could be potentially useful for electron beam modification of nanotubes. The influence of irradiation on the mechanical property, electrical property and field effect of CNTs is discussed. Several examples are given with particular emphasis on the cutting, shaping and welding of CNTs by the electron beam in an electron microscope. It is shown that the change of incident electron energy and ambient temperature will lead to the different irradiation results. It is expected that electron irradiation studies will continue to play an important role in the research on CNTs.