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

Abstract

This work study the impacts of argon irradiation on surface wettability of CA/PANI using home made ion source with fluences (4 × 1014, 8 × 1014, and 12 × 1014 ions cm−2). The EDX, SEM and FTIR methods verified the successful fabrication of the composites. Surface wettability, contact angle, and work of adhesion were measured for the untreated and irradiated composites. Raising the ion flux from 4 × 1014 ions.cm−2 to 12 × 1014 ions.cm−2, it decreases the contact angle of CA/PANI from 62.1° to 43.4° and increases the surface free energy from 46.7 to 63.9 mJ m−2. 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 frequency of 50 to106 Hz. When subjected to 12 × 1014 ions.cm−2, the conductivity rose from 1.1 × 10−8 S cm−1 for CA/PANI to 6.5 × 10−7 S cm−1. The results showed that the irradiated CA/PANI had better electrical and surface properties, which is crucial for many devices including batteries and supercapacitors.