Copper ion implantation of polycarbonate matrices: Morphological and structural properties

The implantation of 1 MeV 63Cu+ ions in polycarbonate (PC) matrices has been carried out in order to evaluate the morphological and structural modifications induced in the polymer as a function of the ion fluence in the range 5 × 1013 ions cm−2 to 1 × 1017 ions cm−2. Atomic Force Microscopy analysis reveals a significant roughness increase of the polymer surface only for fluences higher than 5 × 1016 ions cm−2 with the presence of hillock structures which surface density increases with increasing the ion fluence. X-ray Diffraction measurements of PC implanted with fluences in the range between 5 × 1015 at cm−2 and 5 × 1016 at cm−2 reveal an increase of the disorder inside the PC matrix, as a consequence of the damaging process induced by the ion irradiation. Evidences about the presence of exotic phase structures ascribed to both cubic Cu2O and cubic Cu have been found.