Effect of 100 MeV swift heavy ions [silver (Ag8+)] on morphological and electrical properties of polypyrrole

Abstract

Polypyrrole (PPY) films were prepared by the electrochemical polymerization technique. The fully undoped samples were irradiated with different fluences ranging from 1010 to 1012 ions/cm2 of 100 MeV silver (Ag8+) ions. In order to explain the effect of these radiations, a comparative study of samples before and after irradiation was performed by using various techniques such as surface electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. With an increase in fluence, the surface structure of PPY films becomes smoother, and the conductivity increases by two orders, which has been explained in light of reordering of polymer chains. The temperature dependence of the dc conductivity of irradiated as well as unirradiated samples has been investigated at 77–300 K. The charge transport properties before and after irradiation are retained although conductivity increases. It has been proposed that swift heavy ion irradiation affects the interchain conductivity. The conductivity of irradiated samples is stable under atmospheric conditions for more than 9 months. The present investigations open up the scope for the applicability of irradiated conducting polymers as microstructures with defined conductivity for sensor applications.