Preface

The ion beam, a charged particle beam of various energies, is a standard research tool in many areas of science, from basic nuclear physics to diverse areas in atomic physics, materials science, and medical sciences. It is an advanced and versatile tool that frequently discovers applications across a broad range of disciplines and fields. In this book, we compile the latest research and development on recent progress in ion beam techniques and their applications.

The first part of the book covers the latest research on energetic ion beam irradiation/ implantation-induced materials modifications. Detailed recent experimental research on the effect of low- and high-energy ion irradiation in nanomaterials is presented in this section. Ion beam irradiation-induced phase transformation and nanowelding of nanowires and nanotubes are discussed in this section. Crystal defects play a pivotal role in the physical properties of nanomaterials. The study of ion beam irradiation-induced defects is also presented in this section. The effects of neutrons on the structural materials of future fusion nuclear reactors are very severe and they will have to withstand a very harsh environment. The ion beam experiments approach is effective in emulating a nuclear fusion environment on structural materials. This section also addresses ion irradiation-induced damage of structural materials of future fusion nuclear reactors. The final segment of this section addresses the most important applications of ion implanters. The ion implantation technique is discussed as a novel approach to the modification and optimization of the physical–chemical properties of titanium dioxide for dye-sensitized solar cells with metallic and non-metallic ion implantation.

The second part of the book defines recent achievements in focused ion beam applications. Focused ion beam tomography is one of a number of unique techniques that are continuously improving. This technique contributes to the acquaintance of qualitative and quantitative analysis, 3D volume creations, and image processing. In this book, recent advancements in focused ion beam instrumentation and its use as a 3D imaging tool for different samples ranging from nanometer-sized materials to micrometer-sized biological samples are discussed.

The final segment of the book addresses the most important applications of ion beam analysis. In this section, ion beam analysis techniques are thoroughly discussed to create interest among researchers in the engineering of ion beam techniques. The investigation of toxic metals in the tobacco of Pakistani cigarettes using the proton-induced X-ray emission technique is presented in detail.

Finally, we would like to thank the Authors for their remarkable efforts and Mr. Josip Knapic, the Author Service Manager for his support.

> **Ishaq Ahmad** NPU-NCP Joint International Research Center on Advanced Nanomaterials and Defects Engineering, National Centre for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan

> > **Tingkai Zhao** School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China

**1**

Section 1

Ion Beam Irradiation

Section 1 Ion Beam Irradiation

**3**

than Ag or In.

**Chapter 1**

**Abstract**

collisions of nanowires

appliance in touch sensors as TEs.

**1. Introduction**

Nanowires

*Tingkai Zhao and Maaza Malek*

implantations of ions in MNWs is also discussed.

Ion Implantation in Metal

*Shehla Honey, Asim Jamil, Samson O. Aisida, Ishaq Ahmad,* 

Ion implantation-induced materials modifications are the recent scope of research. A detailed recent experimental research on the effect of low- and highenergy ions implantation-induced morphological and structural changes in metal nanowires (MNWs) is being presented in this chapter. These morphological and structural changes in metal nanowires are discussed on the basis of collision cascade effects and ion beam-induced heats produced along the ion tracks. Various technical aspects of implantation of low energy ions in MNWs, their advantages, and drawbacks are also discussed in this chapter. Furthermore, detailed overview of

**Keywords:** metal nanowires, ions implantation, morphology, structural defects,

Metal nanowires (MNWs) such as silver, copper, nickel, and gold nanowires have a large value of conductivity and transparency. It could be replaced by ITO, but yet these MNWs networks or grids or meshes need more research and development (R&D) consideration from the scientific community in order to make them proficient for successful applications in recent transparent electrodes (TEs) industry. This can be realized by synthesizing MNWs using simple and economic solution-phase techniques and then transferring these MNWs into coating source. That coating source will be used to coat a transparent substrate with a film of MNWs. Even though silver (Ag) (approximately \$766/kg) is costly than indium (In) (approximately \$601/kg) [1–3], but these silver nanowires (Ag-NWs) can be synthesized using roll-to-roll inexpensive solution coating methods. Because of their economic processing expenditure, the stipulation of Ag-NWs is rising for their

Some researchers have reported the scalable synthesis of Cu-NWs via solution coating techniques to make TEs with performance equivalent to ITO [4]. This is inspired by the insight of combining the low cost and simple deposition techniques of Cu-NWs; since Cu is more copious (~1000 times) and less expensive (100 times)
