Study of pore formation during etching of latent tracks of accelerated heavy ions in poly(ethylene terephthalate) by atomic force microscopy

The process of transformation of latent tacks of accelerated heavy ions of poly(ethylene terephthalate) into pores and the formation of a porous struc ture of track membranes was studied by atomic force microscopy. It was show n that on initial etching, 10-nm high knells with an average diameter of 80 0-1000 Angstrom are formed in place of tracks. Based on the knells, through channels are formed, which emerge on the surface as conical cavities. It w as shown that further etching gives first cylindrical channels of diameter 800-1000 Angstrom, which then undergo radial etching.