Impacts of Low Energy Argon Beam on Enhancing the Surface Wettability and Electrical Performance of CA/PANI Films

Abstract

This work study the effects of argon beam irradiation on surface properties of CA/PANI films using cold cathode source with varying ion fluences (4×1014, 8×1014, and 12×1014 ions/cm2). The EDX, SEM and FTIR methods verified successful fabrication of the composites. Surface free energy, contact angle, and work of adhesion were measured for both the pure and irradiated films. Raising the ion flux from 4x1014 ions.cm-2 to 12x1014 ions.cm-2 it decreases the contact angle of CA/PANI from 62.1o to 43.4o and increases the surface free energy from 46.7 to 63.9 mJ/m2. The results showed that the CA/PANI changed after exposed to radiation, proving that the irradiated surface properties were improved. In addition, their electrical conductivity was tested in the frequency range of 50 to106 Hz for CA/PANI films. When subjected to 12x1014 ions.cm-2, the conductivity rose from 1.1×10-8 S/cm for CA/PANI to 6.5×10-7 S/cm. The results showed that the irradiated CA/PANI had better electrical and surface properties, which is crucial for many devices including batteries and supercapacitors