Effect of electron beam irradiation on the structural and optical properties of polymer electrolyte films

The effect of 8 MeV Electron beam (EB) with different doses 25kGy, 50kGy, 75kGy, and 100kGy of irradiation on the optical properties of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) doped polyethylene oxide (PEO) has been studied. The irradiated films are characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) in the KBr medium, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis.) spectroscopy. The FTIR results of the films after EB irradiation shows the appearance of new peaks, and shifts in the position of peak and it confirm the formation of hydrogen bonding. From X-Ray diffraction and SEM it is evidenced that increasing amorphous nature and decrease in crystallinity. UV spectroscopy helps in understanding the number of carbon cluster formation. The optical parameters, namely absorption coefficient, optical direct and indirect band gaps (Eg), band edges and optical activation energy (Ea), are determined for different EB doses. This can be evidenced by the formation of carbonaceous clusters, which are estimated using the modified Tauc’s equation. These results reveal that electron beam irradiation is a powerful tool to modify the structural and optical properties of doped polymer electrolytes and considerable interest in a number of optical applications.