Study of poly(vinylidene fluoride) radiative modification using core level spectroscopy

Modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) directly during radiation exposure was investigated using core level spectroscopy. The strongly non-equilibrium condition of PVDF was studied. The high-resolved C K-edge NEXAFS spectra of poly(vinylidene fluoride) have been measured. The spectra modification due to the polymer degradation caused by monochromatic synchrotron radiation has been revealed. Residual fluorine content was monitored using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The study has shown a significant modification of PVDF chemical content and electronic structure in the course of carbonization under synchrotron radiation. Gradual defluorination of the PVDF sample takes place during irradiation with enrichment of carbon skeleton with hydrogen. In the initial stages of radiative modification, defluorinated system is inhomogeneous and changes under the influence of two simultaneous processes: photochemical defluorination and diffusion of unbounded fluorine atoms to the sample surface.