The reactor conditions are characterised with use of optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and Langmuir probe measurements. The OES data confirms the relative concentrations of radical fluorine within the plasma, whilst the Langmuir probe is used to determine the ion current density, hence relating to the ion bombardment factors taking place on the bucky paper surface.
Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of the SWNTs are also taken to test the structural integrity of the SWNTs after plasma exposure. For the TEM images, 2 mg of SWNT bucky paper were suspended in 2 ml of IPA and a drop of the solution was then suspended onto 300 μm carbon grids.
e XPS equipment.