The
polymer electrolyte films (poly((vinylidene fluoride)-
co
-hexafluoropropylene)/LiClO
4
@90:10 w/w, PHL10)
were prepared by solution-casting technique and the effect of various
dosages of electron beam (EB) irradiation on structure, morphology,
thermal, dielectric, and conductivity properties at various dosages.
The atomic force microscope topography image shows substantial change
in surface morphology due to irradiation and the modification of chemical
bonds through chain scission process with increased EB dose was confirmed
by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies. NMR studies confirm
the change in structural properties due to irradiation. The X-ray
diffractometer confirms the decreased crystallinity from 50.10 for
unirradiated film to 40.96 at 120 kGy doses; hence, increase in amorphousity
due to a decrease in melting temperature from 460 to 418 °C leads
to the degradation of the polymer, and the differential scanning calorimetry
study reveals the decreased crystallinity with increased irradiation
dose. The dielectric and modulus parameters are observed to decrease
with increasing frequency as well as temperature. The conductivity
increases with frequency and EB dose due to the increased segmental
motion of charged ions by chain scission/cross-linking process. The
high conductivity of 1.81 × 10
–3
S/cm with
the corresponding relaxation time of 1.697 × 10
–6
at 120 kGy dose was observed. The conduction mechanism reveals an
Ohmic behavior and the
I
–
V
plot exhibits a gradual increase in current with applied voltage
as well as irradiation dose. The electrochemical performance of the
irradiated polymer electrolyte was improved significantly and hence
the polymer electrolytes can be used in solid-state batteries and
storage applications after altering the properties by the influence
of irradiation.