Suppression of Secondary Electron Emissions on the Graphene-Coated Polyimide Materials Prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Polyimide thin-film materials are widely used in aerospace and particle gas pedals, etc., but the phenomenon of secondary electron emission occurred under vacuum conditions. The graphene-coated polyimide materials were prepared for this phenomenon to suppress secondary electron emissions. The graphene coating was prepared on the polyimide surface through chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Scanning electron microscope images (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer images (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and other analytical methods were used to characterize the properties of the prepared materials. The C1s XPS fine spectra and Raman curve analyses showed that the material has an abundant sp2 hybridized structure, and the sp2 structure can reduce secondary electron emissions. The C, O, and N contents in the tested samples were 65.85, 20.47, and 13.68 at.%, respectively. It was examined that the graphene coating had an inhibitory effect on the secondary electron emissions of polyimide materials, and the secondary electron emission yield (SEY) was significantly reduced. The results of secondary electron tests showed that the maximum SEY (δmax) of the polyimide material decreased from 1.72 to 1.52 after the preparation of the graphene coating. The mechanism of using a graphene coating to reduce the SEY of polyimide was analyzed from experimental and theoretical perspectives. The results of this study can provide research ideas for polyimide thin film materials in aerospace, particle gas pedals, and other applications.