Copper ion implantation of polycarbonate matrices: Morphological and structural properties

The implantation of 1 MeV ⁶³Cu⁺ ions in polycarbonate (PC) matrices has been carried out in order to evaluate the morphological and structural modifications induced in the polymer as a function of the ion fluence in the range 5 × 10¹³ ions cm⁻² to 1 × 10¹⁷ ions cm⁻². Atomic Force Microscopy analysis reveals a significant roughness increase of the polymer surface only for fluences higher than 5 × 10¹⁶ ions cm⁻² with the presence of hillock structures which surface density increases with increasing the ion fluence. X-ray Diffraction measurements of PC implanted with fluences in the range between 5 × 10¹⁵ at cm⁻² and 5 × 10¹⁶ at cm⁻² reveal an increase of the disorder inside the PC matrix, as a consequence of the damaging process induced by the ion irradiation. Evidences about the presence of exotic phase structures ascribed to both cubic Cu₂O and cubic Cu have been found