The effects of multicharged ion irradiation on a polycarbonate surface

ABSTRACT

Polycarbonate targets were irradiated with multicharged ions of argon and oxygen with kinetic energies between 375 eV and 1 keV. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis following the irradiations showed evidence of bond-breaking at the polycarbonate surface. The extent of the ion-induced damage indicates that the ion charge state enhances the damage well beyond that observed for similar, low flux singly charged ions. A qualitative comparison with a simple description of the radius of capture for the initial transfer of electrons between the ion and surface is used to understand the multicharged ion effects.

KEYWORDS:

• Multicharged ions
• polycarbonate
• XPS

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

E. S. Srinadhu http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7369-1568

J. E. Harriss http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0892-9653

C. E. Sosolik http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6686-2584

Additional information

Funding

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency W911NF-13-1-0042