Effects of implantation of laser produced Ni plasma ions on CR-39 correlated with surface, structural, optical and electrical properties of polymer.

Laser produced plasma ions implantation has a great potential to change various characteristics of the polymer after irradiation, such as, surface, structural, optical and electrical properties. For this purpose, polymer CR- 39 is implanted by laser produced Ni plasma ions at various fluences ranging from 75 × 1013 to 95 × 1016 ions/cm2. The ion energy estimated by Thomson parabola technique using CR-39 detectors was 540 KeV. Digital optical microscopic analysis illustrates the formation of granular morphology for all ion fluences. However, at the maximum fluence (95 × 1016 ions/cm2), distinct and well organized grains with sub-granular morphology are observed. Confocal microscopic analysis shows the development of micro/nano sized caters, voids, ion tracks, clusters and bumps for various fluences of Ni ions ranging from 75 × 1013 to 60 × 1015 ions/cm2. Whereas, at the maximum ion fluence (95 × 1016 ions/cm2), hillock like features are observed. Raman spectroscopy analysis shows the formation of carbonaceous structures along with new bonds of Ni–C O in implanted CR-39. Reduction in transmittance value from 92.2% to 60.8% is observed with increase in ion fluence from 75 × 1013 to 95 × 1016 ions/cm2. The electrical conductivity of implanted CR-39 increases by increasing the ion fluence. Formation of conductive layer and carbonaceous structures are considered to be accountable for improvements in electrical conductivity of implanted target polymer. The observed stopping power or Linear Energy Transfer (LET) of 540 KeV Ni ions in CR-39 is 72.88 eV/Ǻ and their corresponding depth is 686 nm. • To investigate the surface, structural, topographical, optical and electrical properties of Ni ion implanted CR-39. • Formation of ion induced well defined granular morphology is perceived. • The estimated surface temperature of implanted surface increases up to 7.1 × 104 K. • Linear Energy Transfer (LET) of 540 KeV Ni ions in CR-39 is 72.88 eV/Ǻ and their corresponding depth is 537.3 nm. • Electrical conductivity of implanted CR-39 increases monotonically by increasing ion fluence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]