Carbon NanoTubes

One of the activities of our laboratory is related to the synthesis and anisotropy characterization of highly-aligned CNTs, within the PTOLEMY project (https://ptolemy.lngs.infn.it/). The project aims to realize a scalable design for a Cosmological Neutrino Telescope and to demonstrate, via direct measurements, that non-neutrino backgrounds are below the expected signal from the Big Bang. A novel CNT-based detector has been recently proposed as anisotropic targets for the directional detection of dark matter. Within this project, we are testing and quantifying the anisotropy of highly-aligned CNTs to intentional directional damage; the latter has been produced by argon ion bombardment, at different doses and energies. The spectral hallmarks of the damage have been clearly outlined, by C 1s core-level lineshape and Raman analysis, showing the much effective channeling of Ar ions directed parallel to the CNT axes, rather than perpendicular to it. Furthermore, the channelling of ions in the CNT interstices is shown through the angular dependence. Finally, we are developping a UHV chamber dedicated to the growth of highly-aligned CNTs on different substrates.