Effect of electron beam irradiation on structure, morphology, and optical properties of PVDF-HFP/PEO blend polymer electrolyte films

The effect of 8 MeV energy electron beam (EB) on poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) (@ w/w 90:10, PHP10) polymer blend films have been prepared and studied. The change in structure, morphology, and optical properties at 40, 80, and 120 kGy EB doses were investigated. The effect of the radiation process may responsible to occurs the degradation (chain scission) and chain link (cross linking) which are confirmed by the FT-IR analysis. The band at 1401 cm(-1) corresponding to the -CH2- bending or scission mode have shifted to 1397 cm(-1) after 120 kGy EB dose is due to the intermolecular interaction and the changes of the macromolecular chain by breaking of bonds with increased EB dose was observed. The XRD pattern shows decreased in the crystallinity from 60.03 to 23.42% and increased amorphousity for 120 kGy EB dose the and the surface morphology was drastically changed by decreasing the size of spherulites upon increased EB dose. The increase in optical absorption and the shifting of wavelength toward a higher end (red shift) was observed after the irradiation. The energy band gaps (E-g), and Urbach energy were estimated and they are found to be decreased, but the number of carbon atoms in a cluster of was increased with increased EB dose. The obtained results notice that the physical properties of polymer blend electrolytes can be improved by EB irradiation to use in different potential applications.