Ion-beam Irradiation on Electrospun Ladder-type Polyimide Nanofibers

Abstract

The ladder-type polyimide, polypyrrolone (PPL) nanofibers were prepared by an electrospinning of precursor polymer and followed thermal ring-closing reaction. Ion-beam irradiation on the electrospun PPL nanofibers gave carbon nanofibers. The electrical conductivities of PPL nanofibrous membranes after ion-beam irradiation were lower than those of conventional polyimide (6FDA-6FAP) nanofibrous membranes due to their thick fiber diameters and shallow ion penetration. However, results of dense membranes and Raman spectra revealed that the ladder structure of PPL had advantages in carbonization and graphitization to give higher electrical conductive materials.