Preparation of fluoropolymer-based ion-track membranes; Conductometric analysis of track-etching behavior

Yamaki, Tetsuya; Nuryanthi, N.*; Koshikawa, Hiroshi; Sawada, Shinichi; Hasegawa, Shin; Asano, Masaharu; Maekawa, Yasunari; Voss, K.-O.*; Trautmann, C.*; Neumann, R.*

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes with cylindrical nanopores were prepared in a controlled manner by the ion-track technique, which involved ion-beam irradiation and the subsequent alkaline etching. As is well-known, etching behavior appeared to depend on energy deposition of ion beams, i.e., linear energy transfer (LET) and radial dose distribution in a latent track. Electrolytic conductometry then gave an insight into critical experimental parameters. Interestingly, applying a higher voltage to the conductometry cell promoted track etching up to breakthrough probably because electrophoretic migration of dissolved products occurred out of each pore.