Optical properties and chemical structures of Kapton-H film after proton irradiation by immersion in a hydrogen plasma

• Published in: Applied surface science 2012-02, Vol.258 (8), p.3829-3834
• Main Authors: Shi, Jingwei, Gong, Chunzhi, Tian, Xiubo, Yang, Shiqin, Chu, Paul K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bonds breakage; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogen plasma immersion configuration; Kapton-H; Optical transmittance; Physics; Proton irradiation
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.12.037

► Proton irradiation on polyimide films is conducted by immersing the samples in hydrogen plasma. ► The spectral transmittance decreases in the wavelength of 500–2000nm after proton irradiation. ► Surface etching and the polymer chains breakage make finger-like bulges emerge in the surface of the sample. ► The content of C element increases, while that of N and O elements decreased after proton irradiation. Proton irradiation of Kapton-H films was physically simulated in plasma immersion configuration with hydrogen plasmas. Hydrogen ion was implanted into the samples biased to a negative pulse of 20kV. Optical transmittance of the sample in the wavelength region of 200–2500nm was determined by a UV–vis–NIR scanning spectrophotometer, and the functional group evolution was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to determine the roughness and morphology of the samples, and the bulk modification was analyzed by FTIR. The experimental results showed the optical transmittance of the treated sample in the wavelength of 500–2000nm weakened after proton irradiation, and decreased with the increase of irradiation time. Finger-like bulges emerged on the surface of the sample irradiated by ion irradiation for 30min, and became bigger and denser with the increase of the irradiation time. The content of C element of the sample increased after proton irradiation, while that of N and O elements decreased because of the bonds breakage of CO, COC and CN during irradiation process.