Ce travail de doctorat a été réalisé dans le cadre d'un accord de cotutelle international entre l'Université de Salento (L3, Italie) et l'Université de Paris 13 (LSPM, France). L'objectif principal était la fabrication de contacts ohmiques sur des surfaces de diamant pour des applications telles que les détecteurs et les dispositifs de l’électronique. Les travaux au L3 ont été consacrés à l'étude du processus de graphitisation du diamant induit par laser afin de produire des électrodes de graphite sur des diamants intrinsèques. L'étude se concentre en particulier sur le développement d’un appareil expérimental pour l’écriture laser sur diamant tant sur les aspects matériel que logiciel, et un protocole a ainsi été développé pour la fabrication de contacts graphitiques segmentés sur de larges surfaces de diamant (cm²). Des travaux approfondis de caractérisation ont démontré la transition de phase diamant-graphite et le comportement ohmique pour les contacts électriques avec une résistivité de l'ordre de 10⁻⁵ Ω.m. Des détecteurs tout-carbone ont ainsi été développés et testés avec des faisceaux électroniques et positroniques de 450 MeV. Ils permettent d’ouvrir des perspectives en tant que cible active pour de nouvelles expériences de physique des hautes énergies (PADME) dans le cadre de l’étude de la matière noire. Le travail au LSPM a été consacré au développement d'un protocole permettant d'obtenir des contacts ohmiques sur des films diamant faiblement dopé au bore et terminé oxygène, élaborés par MPACVD. Les procédés de fabrication de contacts métalliques Ti/Au sur une structure mesa ainsi que l’implantation par des ions He, ont été développés afin d'induire une couche de graphite juste en dessous de la surface de diamant. Les mesures électriques sur des diamants légèrement dopés ([B] = 4 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) avec seulement des contacts métalliques ou graphitiques / métalliques ont montré que la présence de la couche graphitique rend les contacts ohmiques et conduisent à une résistance spécifique de contact égale à 3.3 × 10⁻⁴ Ω.cm². / This PhD work has been carried out in international cotutelle agreement between the University of Salento (L3, Italy) and the University of Paris 13 (LSPM, France). The main aim was the manufacturing of ohmic contacts on diamond surface for detector and electronic device applications. The work at L3 was dedicated to the laser-induced diamond graphitization process in order to produce graphitic electrodes on intrinsic diamonds. An experimental set-up dedicated to the laser writing technique on diamond has been developed in both hardware and software aspects and a protocol for the manufacturing of segmented graphitic contacts on diamond surface of large scale (cm²) has been implemented. An extensive characterization work has demonstrated the diamond-graphite phase transition and an ohmic electrical behaviour for the contacts with a resistivity of the order of ≈ 10⁻⁵ Ω.m. Eventually, an all-carbon detector has been developed and tested with 450 MeV electron and positron beams proving to be a good candidate in the role of active target for a new high-energy experiment (PADME) in the framework of the dark matter. The work at LSPM has been dedicated to the development of a protocol allowing reaching ohmic contacts on lightly boron doped diamond with oxygenated surface grown by MPACVD. The fabrication of Ti/Au metallic contact above a mesa structure has relied on a He ion implantation treatment to induce a graphitic layer underneath the diamond surface. The electrical measurements on lightly doped diamonds ([B] = 4 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) with metal or graphite / metal contacts have shown that the graphitic layer makes ohmic the contacts leading to a specific contact resistance as low as 3.3 × 10⁻⁴ Ω.cm². / Questo dottorato di ricerca è stato svolto in convenzione di cotutela internazionale tra l’Università del Salento (L3, Italia) e l’Università di Parigi 13 (LSPM, Francia). Il principale obiettivo è stato la fabbricazione di contatti ohmici su superficie di diamante per applicazioni come rivelatori e dispositivi elettronici. Il lavoro a L3 è stato dedicato allo studio del processo di grafitizzazione del diamante indotto da laser al fine di produrre elettrodi grafitici su diamanti intrinseci. In particolare, è stato sviluppato un apparato sperimentale dedicato alla tecnica di scrittura laser su diamante sia nelle componenti hardware che software, ed è stato realizzato un protocollo per la fabbricazione di contatti grafitici segmentati su superfici di diamante di grande scala (cm²). Un ampio lavoro di caratterizzazione ha dimostrato la transizione di fase diamante-grafite e il comportamento ohmico per i contatti elettrici con una resistività dell’ordine di 10⁻⁵ Ω.m. Pertanto, un rivelatore costituito solo di carbonio è stato sviluppato e testato con fasci elettronici e positronici di 450 MeV risultando essere un buon candidato nel ruolo di bersaglio attivo per un nuovo esperimento di fisica delle alte energie (PADME) nel contesto della materia oscura. Il lavoro a LSPM è stato dedicato allo sviluppo di un protocollo che ha consentito di ottenere contatti ohmici su diamanti leggermente drogati con boro e con superficie terminata con ossigeno, cresciuti mediante MPACVD. I processi di fabbricazione di contatti metallici Ti/Au sopra una struttura mesa sono stati sviluppato così come un trattamento di impiantazione a base di ioni di He al fine di indurre uno strato grafitico appena sotto la superficie del diamante. Le misure elettriche su diamanti leggermente drogati ([B] = 4 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³) con contatti o solo metallici o grafitici / metallici hanno dimostrato che la presenza dello strato grafitico rende i contatti ohmici e comporta una resistenza specifica di contatto pari a 3.3 × 10⁻⁴ Ω.cm².

This diploma thesis in the theoretical part deals with classification of cast iron, problems of gray cast iron production, methods of inoculation and valuation of the gray iron quality by means of thermal analysis. The aim of practical part was to investigate effectiveness of inoculation of two different inoculants using thermal analysis. In terms of mechanical properties, hardness and ultimate tensile strength were measured. Metallographic specimen were evaluating by means of image analysis software.

The increasing demand for digitalization has spurred the need for novel and sustainable designs of electronic devices like sensors. Advanced additive print technologies, organic inks, and bio-based substrates in device fabrication exhibit promising potential for reducing energy and raw material consumption, thereby alleviating environmental impacts. One such innovation is the novel method of laser graphitization in designing devices like printed humidity sensors. This study focuses on evaluating the environmental impacts of implementing this novel technique in the field of printed electronics. In particular, the thesis conducts a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of producing a resistive-type humidity sensor from a forest-based wood ink using laser graphitization. The sensor is based on the design that was demonstrated in the lab facilities at the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Norrköping. The assessment is at a lab-scale production of making 1mm2 area of a laser-induced graphitized (LIG) sensor, excluding usage, disposal, or recycling phases. The results highlight impacts from electricity usage as the primary contributor to the overall environmental impacts, across the production process, followed by the impacts from material usage. The impact share distribution from these two hotspots identifies opportunities in the process that need to be prioritized for immediate actions. Sensitivity analyses varying the sensor layer thickness and the electricity mix of the laboratory facilities reveal insightful impact trends. The results from scenario analyses show the LIG sensor to have much lower environmental impacts than that of a sensor with silver electrodes and carbon-based sensing ink. They also show potential for achieving economies of scale from the mass production of LIG sensors. The data inventory for the processes and components of the sensor stands as a crucial part of this study, relying heavily on literature, assumptions, and proxy data. While these may reveal some uncertainties and limitations, the study nonetheless, serves as an important reference for future research concerning similar databases and a cradle-to-grave LCA of the sensor. / Den ökade efterfrågan för digitalisering har skapat behov av nya och hållbara designs av elektroniska enheter som sensorer. Avancerade lager printteknologier, organiskt bläck och biobaserat substrat i enhetstillverkning visar lovande potential för att reducera energi och rå materielkonsumtion och därmed minskning av miljöpåverkan. En sådan innovation är den nya metoden av lasergrafitisering i designenheter som printad fuktighetssensor. Denna studie har som fokus att utvärdera miljöpåverkan av ny teknik inom området tryckt elektronik. I synnerhet ska avhandlingen göra en livscykelanalys (LCA), från råvaruutvinning till slutprodukt av att producera en resistent fuktsensor från ett skogsbaserat träbläck genom lasergrafitisering. Sensorn är baserad på en design som var demonstrerad i en labbanläggning hos forskningsinstitutet RISE i Norrköping. Forskningen är analysen av laboratorieskalad produktion av 1mm2 lasergrafitiserad sensoryta, exklusive användning, bortskaffande och återvinningsfaser. Resultaten lyfter fram påverkan från elektronisk användning som den primära bidragaren till övergripande miljöpåverkan över hela produktionsprocessen, följd av påverkan från materiell användning. Påverkan från dessa två hotspots uppmärksamgör möjligheter i processen som är av prioritet för omedelbart åtgärdande. Känslighetsanalyser av de varierande sensorskiktens tjockhet och elektronisk mix i laboratoriums faciliteten, påvisar insiktsfulla påverkanstrender. Resultaten från scenarioanalyser visar att LIG sensorer har mycket lägre miljöpåverkan än sensorer med silverelektroner och kolbaserat avläsningsbläck. De visar också potential för att uppnå ekonomisk skalbarhet för massproducering av LIG-sensorer. Datalagring för processerna och komponenterna av sensorn står som kritisk del av studien, med en tung tillit på litteratur, antaganden och proxydata. Då dessa faktorer kan påvisa några osäkerheter och begränsningar så bidrar studien ändå som en viktig referens för framtida forskning berörande liknande databaser och en LCA från råvaruutvinning till sluthanteringsfasen av sensorn.

No description available.

Ion irradiation of tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) thin films induces a carbon phase transformation from the electrically insulating sp3 hybridization into the conducting sp2 hybridization. In this work, a detailed study on the electrical resistivity and the microstructure of areas, irradiated with several ion species at 30 keV energy is presented. Continuous ion bombardment yields a drastic drop of the resistivity as well as significant structural modifications of the evolving sp2 carbon phase. It is shown that the resistivity lowering can be attributed to the degree of graphitization in the film. Furthermore, the structural ordering processes are correlated with the ion deposited energy density. It is therefore revealed that the ion-induced phase transformation in ta-C films is a combination of sp3-to-sp2 conversion of carbon atoms and ion-induced ordering of the microstructure into a more graphite-like arrangement. All experiments were done with focused ion beam (FIB) systems by applying FIB lithography of electrical van-der-Pauw test structures. FIB lithography on ta-C layers is presented as a fast and easy technique for the preparation of electrically active micro- and nanostructures in an insulating carbon matrix.

No projeto desenvolvido, ligações cruzadas foram formadas no polietileno de alta densidade e alto peso molecular, grade HS5103, através dos processos reticulação por peróxidos e silanos, com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito da introdução de ligações cruzadas nas propriedades térmicas e mecânicas deste PEAD. Misturas entre o HS5103 e os peróxidos orgânicos, 2,5-Dimetil-2,5-di(terc-butilperoxi)hexano (DHBP) e peróxido de dicumila (DCP), foram produzidas e analisadas para a avaliação do efeito dos tipos de peróxido na reticulação e propriedades do PEAD e para determinação da concentração e do tipo de peróxido a ser utilizado como agente iniciador de reticulação por silano. Ensaios de índice de fluidez (MFI), reometria capilar, extração de polímero por xileno (teor de gel), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e tração foram realizados para caracterização das misturas com peróxidos. Os resultados indicaram aumento da viscosidade com o aumento da concentração de peróxido, sendo o DHBP o que apresentou maior índice de aumento; não houve mudanças relevantes nas propriedades mecânicas e, ocorreu aumento do grau de cristalinidade, sendo mais significativo nas amostras com DCP. Após avaliação dos resultados citados, para as amostras a serem reticuladas via silano, foi promovida a graftização de diferentes concentrações de viniltrimetóxisilano (VTMS) na presença de 0,01%p/p de DCP com a adição de 0,05%p/p de catalisador, posteriormente a reticulação foi promovida em água. As amostras produzidas foram caracterizadas por ensaios de teor de gel, análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA), espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (FTIR), TGA, ensaios de desgaste por deslizamento e tração. Nas amostras com silano a formação de ligações cruzadas foi gradativa, apresentando de 8% de gel para amostra com 0,5%p/p de VTMS a 57 % para amostra com1,5% p/p de silano, maior concentração utilizada. A análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA) realizada evidenciou que houve um aumento densidade de ligações cruzadas e do módulo de armazenamento após temperatura de fusão com o teor de silano, concordando com os resultados de teor de gel. As análises de FTIR mostraram que houve a graftização e a formação de ligações cruzadas no PEAD HS5103. Não se observou um aumento significativo para o limite de resistência para o PEAD modificado. E os testes de desgaste por deslizamento indicaram um aumento da resistência ao desgaste das amostras reagidas com VTMS. / In the project carried out, crosslinks were formed in high density and high molecular weight polyethylene, grade HS5103, through peroxide and silane reticulation processes, aiming to evaluate the effects of the introduction of crosslinks in thermal and mechanical properties of this PEAD. Mixtures between HS103 and organic peroxides, 2,5-Bis(t-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane (DHBP) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) have been produced and analyzed for the evaluation of the effect of types of peroxide in reticulation and PEAD properties and to determine both concentration and type of the peroxide to be used as silane reticulation initiation agent. Melt flow index (MFI), capillary rheometry, xylem polymer extraction (gel content), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential canning calorimetry (DSC) and traction tests were carried out for peroxide mixtures characterization. The results indicated increase of viscosity with the increase of the concentration of peroxide, being DHBP the one with the highest increase level; there have been no relevant changes concerning mechanical properties and there has been an increase in the crystallinity levels, mostly in DCP samples. After the assessment of the former results, for the samples to be reticulated through silane, graphitization of different concentrations of Vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) was carried out, together with 0.01%p/p of DCP, adding 0.05%p/p of a catalyst; later, reticulation was carried out in water. The samples produced were characterized by gel content tests, dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TGA, sliding and traction wear tests. In the silane samples, formation of crosslinks was gradual, showing 8% of gel to the sample with com 0.5%p/p of VTMS to 57 % to the sample with 1.5% p/p of silane, the highest concentration used. The dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) showed an increase of density in crosslinks and storing mode after fusion temperature with silane content, converging with gel content results. FTIR analysis showed there has been graphitization and crosslink formations in PEAD HS5103. A significant increase has not been observed concerning the limit of resistance for the modified PEAD. Besides, sliding wear tests indicated an increase of resistance to the wear of samples reacted to VTMS.

No projeto desenvolvido, ligações cruzadas foram formadas no polietileno de alta densidade e alto peso molecular, grade HS5103, através dos processos reticulação por peróxidos e silanos, com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito da introdução de ligações cruzadas nas propriedades térmicas e mecânicas deste PEAD. Misturas entre o HS5103 e os peróxidos orgânicos, 2,5-Dimetil-2,5-di(terc-butilperoxi)hexano (DHBP) e peróxido de dicumila (DCP), foram produzidas e analisadas para a avaliação do efeito dos tipos de peróxido na reticulação e propriedades do PEAD e para determinação da concentração e do tipo de peróxido a ser utilizado como agente iniciador de reticulação por silano. Ensaios de índice de fluidez (MFI), reometria capilar, extração de polímero por xileno (teor de gel), análise termogravimétrica (TGA), calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e tração foram realizados para caracterização das misturas com peróxidos. Os resultados indicaram aumento da viscosidade com o aumento da concentração de peróxido, sendo o DHBP o que apresentou maior índice de aumento; não houve mudanças relevantes nas propriedades mecânicas e, ocorreu aumento do grau de cristalinidade, sendo mais significativo nas amostras com DCP. Após avaliação dos resultados citados, para as amostras a serem reticuladas via silano, foi promovida a graftização de diferentes concentrações de viniltrimetóxisilano (VTMS) na presença de 0,01%p/p de DCP com a adição de 0,05%p/p de catalisador, posteriormente a reticulação foi promovida em água. As amostras produzidas foram caracterizadas por ensaios de teor de gel, análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA), espectroscopia de absorção no infravermelho (FTIR), TGA, ensaios de desgaste por deslizamento e tração. Nas amostras com silano a formação de ligações cruzadas foi gradativa, apresentando de 8% de gel para amostra com 0,5%p/p de VTMS a 57 % para amostra com1,5% p/p de silano, maior concentração utilizada. A análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA) realizada evidenciou que houve um aumento densidade de ligações cruzadas e do módulo de armazenamento após temperatura de fusão com o teor de silano, concordando com os resultados de teor de gel. As análises de FTIR mostraram que houve a graftização e a formação de ligações cruzadas no PEAD HS5103. Não se observou um aumento significativo para o limite de resistência para o PEAD modificado. E os testes de desgaste por deslizamento indicaram um aumento da resistência ao desgaste das amostras reagidas com VTMS. / In the project carried out, crosslinks were formed in high density and high molecular weight polyethylene, grade HS5103, through peroxide and silane reticulation processes, aiming to evaluate the effects of the introduction of crosslinks in thermal and mechanical properties of this PEAD. Mixtures between HS103 and organic peroxides, 2,5-Bis(t-butylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane (DHBP) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) have been produced and analyzed for the evaluation of the effect of types of peroxide in reticulation and PEAD properties and to determine both concentration and type of the peroxide to be used as silane reticulation initiation agent. Melt flow index (MFI), capillary rheometry, xylem polymer extraction (gel content), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential canning calorimetry (DSC) and traction tests were carried out for peroxide mixtures characterization. The results indicated increase of viscosity with the increase of the concentration of peroxide, being DHBP the one with the highest increase level; there have been no relevant changes concerning mechanical properties and there has been an increase in the crystallinity levels, mostly in DCP samples. After the assessment of the former results, for the samples to be reticulated through silane, graphitization of different concentrations of Vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) was carried out, together with 0.01%p/p of DCP, adding 0.05%p/p of a catalyst; later, reticulation was carried out in water. The samples produced were characterized by gel content tests, dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TGA, sliding and traction wear tests. In the silane samples, formation of crosslinks was gradual, showing 8% of gel to the sample with com 0.5%p/p of VTMS to 57 % to the sample with 1.5% p/p of silane, the highest concentration used. The dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) showed an increase of density in crosslinks and storing mode after fusion temperature with silane content, converging with gel content results. FTIR analysis showed there has been graphitization and crosslink formations in PEAD HS5103. A significant increase has not been observed concerning the limit of resistance for the modified PEAD. Besides, sliding wear tests indicated an increase of resistance to the wear of samples reacted to VTMS.

Ion irradiation of tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) thin films induces a carbon phase transformation from the electrically insulating sp3 hybridization into the conducting sp2 hybridization. In this work, a detailed study on the electrical resistivity and the microstructure of areas, irradiated with several ion species at 30 keV energy is presented. Continuous ion bombardment yields a drastic drop of the resistivity as well as significant structural modifications of the evolving sp2 carbon phase. It is shown that the resistivity lowering can be attributed to the degree of graphitization in the film. Furthermore, the structural ordering processes are correlated with the ion deposited energy density. It is therefore revealed that the ion-induced phase transformation in ta-C films is a combination of sp3-to-sp2 conversion of carbon atoms and ion-induced ordering of the microstructure into a more graphite-like arrangement. All experiments were done with focused ion beam (FIB) systems by applying FIB lithography of electrical van-der-Pauw test structures. FIB lithography on ta-C layers is presented as a fast and easy technique for the preparation of electrically active micro- and nanostructures in an insulating carbon matrix.:Contents List of Figures iii List of Tables v List of Abbreviations vii 1. Introduction 1 2. Fundamentals 5 2.1. Ion-solid interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.1.1. Scattering and stopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 2.1.2. Ion range distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2.1.3. Target modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2.1.4. Thermal driven segregation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 2.2. Focused ion beams (FIBs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2.2.1. Commercial gallium FIB (Ga + -FIB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 2.2.2. Mass-separated FIB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 2.3. Tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 2.3.1. Composition, microstructure and film properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 2.3.2. Growth mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 2.3.3. Electronic properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 3. Experimental 39 3.1. Samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 3.2. Apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 4. Ion induced surface swelling 43 4.1. Fluence and energy dependence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 4.2. Calculations of the swelling height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 5. Electrical properties of irradiated ta-C 55 5.1. Electrical resistivity of as-implanted ta-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 5.1.1. Resistance of Ga + implanted micropatterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 5.1.2. Sheet resistance of Ga + irradiated ta-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 5.1.3. Determination of the sp 3 content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 5.1.4. The effect of different ion species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 5.1.5. Low temperature resistivity – The peculiarity of gallium . . . . . . . . . . 71 5.2. The effect of annealing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 5.3. Irradiation at elevated substrate temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 6. The microstructure of irradiated ta-C 87 6.1. Raman investigations of ion irradiated ta-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 6.1.1. Fundamentals of Raman spectroscopy on amorphous carbon . . . . . . . . 88 6.1.2. Raman spectra of as-implanted ta-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 6.1.3. Thermally driven graphitization of the microstructure . . . . . . . . . . . 98ii Contents 6.1.4. The correlation between microstructure and resistivity . . . . . . . . . . . 101 6.2. TEM investigations of ion irradiated ta-C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 7. FIB lithography on ta-C layers 107 7.1. Graphitic nanowires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 7.1.1. Nanowire dimensions – The resolution of FIB lithography . . . . . . . . . 108 7.1.2. Nanowire resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 7.2. Electrical insulation between conducting structures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 8. Conclusions and Outlook 117 A. Gallium nanoparticles on ta-C layers 121 Bibliography 123

New derivatives of carbon nanostructures: nanotubes, nano-onions and nanocrystalline diamonds were obtained through fluorination and subsequent functionalization with sucrose. Chemically modified nanocarbons show high solubility in water, ethanol, DMF and can be used as biomaterials for medical applications. It was demonstrated that sucrose functionalized nanostructures can find applications in nanocomposites due to improved dispersion enabled by polyol functional groups. Additionally, pristine and chemically derivatized carbon nanotubes were studied as nanofillers in epoxy composites. Carbon nanotubes tailored with amino functionalities demonstrated better dispersion and crosslinking with epoxy polymer yielding improved tensile strength and elastic properties of nanocomposites. Reductive functionalization of nanocarbons, also known as Billups reaction, is a powerful method to yield nanomaterials with high degree of surface functionalization. In this method, nanocarbon salts prepared by treatment with lithium or sodium in liquid ammonia react readily with alkyl and aryl halides as well as bromo carboxylic acids. Functionalized materials are soluble in various organic or aqueous solvents. Water soluble nanodiamond derivatives were also synthesized by reductive functionalization of annealed nanodiamonds. Nanodiamond heat pretreatment was necessary to yield surface graphene layers and facilitate electron transfer from reducing agent to the surface of nanoparticles. Other carbon materials such as activated carbon and anthracite coal were also derivatized using reductive functionalization to yield water soluble activated carbon and partially soluble in organic solvents anthracite. It was shown that activated carbon can be effectively functionalized by Billups method. New derivatives of activated carbon can improve water treatment targeting specific impurities and bio active contaminants. It was demonstrated that functionalized carbon nanotubes are suitable for real time radiation measurements. Radiation sensor incorporating derivatized carbon nanotubes is lightweight and reusable. In summary, functionalization of carbon nanomaterials opens new avenues for processing and applications ranging from biomedicine to radiation sensing in space.