ABSTRACT This investigation explores the efficacy of high‐energy carbon ion beam irradiation as a novel technique for structurally modifying polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) thin films to enhance their performance as separators in zinc–air (Zn–air) batteries. Pristine, β‐phase dominant PVDF films were irradiated with an 85 MeV C‐ion ( 12 C 6+ ) beam at varying fluences to engineer tailored porosity and surface characteristics. Comprehensive structural analysis via X‐ray diffraction and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed ion‐induced modifications, including variations in crystallinity and fluence‐dependent chemical changes. A critical outcome was a dramatic 55% increase in hydrophilicity, with the water contact angle reduced from 77° for pristine PVDF to 28° for the sample irradiated at the highest fluence, indicating significantly improved electrolyte wettability. Electrochemically, this translated to enhanced ion transport, with the modified separator achieving a current density of 24 mA/cm 2 . When integrated into a Zn–air battery configuration, the irradiated PVDF separator demonstrated superior charging‐discharging performance and exceptional cycling stability compared to its pristine counterpart. This work successfully establishes high‐energy ion beam irradiation as a potent and promising method for precisely tailoring separator properties to optimize battery efficiency and longevity.
Arshad et al. (Tue,) studied this question.