Thermo-activation spectroscopy of track-etched membranes based on polyethylene terephthalate films irradiated by swift Xe ions

In this work, thermally stimulated spectroscopy methods are applied to PET films to analyse the electret state. The thermally stimulated discharge currents, or thermally stimulated depolarization of track-etched like membrane samples obtained at different technological stages of their manufacture, have been investigated. The analysis of thermally stimulated depolarization currents indicates a significant change in the spectra of energy states of the electric charge accumulated during PET films' polarization after irradiation with accelerated swift Xe ions, ultraviolet treatment, and alkaline etching of the latent tracks. The Eyring method was used to calculate the parameters of the relaxation processes occurring in irradiated PET, such as the activation energy and the effective frequency factor. The significant change in the spectra of energy states of the electric charge accumulated during polarization in PET films due to ion-track processes indicates the possibility of creating an electret state in irradiated PET films and track membranes.