Structural and Chemical Modification in a Polymer by Metal Ion Implantation

Physical and chemical properties changes in a polymer have been studied for polycarbonate (PC) implanted with 100 keV Ni+ ions with varying fluence from 1 x 10(14) to 1 x 10(16) ions/cm(2). The changes in the surface morphology and composition have been observed with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The ions implanted induce changes in topography of PC and indicate that the roughness increases dramatically with ion fluence. Implanted metal ions shows direct evidence of compound formation on the surface. The chemical changes in the surface region have been carried out by Raman Spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectroscopy. UV-VIS absorption analysis indicates a drastic decline in optical band gap from 5.46 eV to 1.76 eV at an implanted dose of 1 x 10(16) ions/cm(2). It could be shown that the partial destruction of chemical bonding under ion implantation leads to the creation of new amorphous and graphite-like structures, which is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2010