Modification in electrical conductivity correlated with surface, structural & optical characteristics of graphite...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Plasma Physics
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• CR-39 polymer is widely used but its surface properties can be enhanced for specific applications.
• Laser-induced plasma offers a versatile method for material modification.
• Ion implantation is a key technique for altering material characteristics at the atomic level.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of graphite ion implantation on the surface, optical, electrical, and structural properties of CR-39.
• To characterize the modifications induced by varying ion fluences.
• To explore the potential of laser-induced graphite plasma for material functionalization.

Main Methods:

• Graphite plasma generation using a KrF Excimer laser.
• Ion implantation of CR-39 targets with graphite ions (710 KeV) at various fluences (2.6 x 10^12 to 9.2 x 10^15 ions/cm^2) under a magnetic field (90 mT).
• Analysis using digital optical microscopy, confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and SRIM software.

Main Results:

• Formation of dendritic and island-like structures, nano/micro craters, and hillocks on the CR-39 surface.
• Evidence of bond dissociation and formation confirmed by Raman analysis.
• Reduced optical transmittance from 90% to 68% and improved electrical conductivity from 10^-9 to 10^-7 S/cm.

Conclusions:

• Graphite ion implantation effectively modifies CR-39's surface morphology, optical, and electrical properties.
• The observed changes suggest potential applications in areas requiring tailored surface characteristics.
• Laser-induced plasma implantation provides a controllable method for enhancing polymer functionality.