Effect of 200 keV H+ ion implantation on films of poly(vinylidene fluoride).

• Effects of 200 keV H+ ions on poly(vinylidene fluoride) films. • Investigation on surface modifications and loss of crystallinity. • Probing the effect of amorphisation on the phases have been probed. Free-standing, flexible films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) were synthesized using sol-gel method. Effects of implantation of 200 keV H+ ions on these samples were studied. An apparent change in colour of the films, with ion implantation, was observed. Morphological studies revealed breaking up of larger spherulites into smaller ones with irradiation. Microstructural analysis revealed an increase in amorphous content with irradiation. Microscopic and vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) also point out to the loss of crystalline nature upon irradiation. Effect of ion implantation on the fraction of electroactive phases and the non-polar α phase has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]