Li+ grafting of ion irradiated polyethylene

Foils of oriented polyethylene (PE) were irradiated with 63 keV Ar+ and 155 keV Xe+ ions to different fluences at room temperature and then doped from water solution of LiCl. The as irradiated and irradiated plus doped sample s were examined by IR, EPR and neutron depth profiling (NDP) technique. The sheet resistance was also measured by the standard two points method. Afte r Li salt doping of ion modified layer of PE, a reaction between degraded m acromolecules and Li occur and thus a new chemical structure C-Li+ is forme d. Owing to the presence of these cations on the polymer chain, the irradia ted plus doped layer exhibits higher electric conductivity compared to as-i rradiated ones. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.