NUCLEOPHILIC-SUBSTITUTION REACTIONS OF POLYANILINE WITH SUBSTITUTED BENZENEDIAZONIUM IONS - A FACILE METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SURFACE-CHEMISTRY OF CONDUCTING POLYMERS

The surface chemistry of polyaniline films is controlled via the nucle ophilic reaction of amines within the polymer with substituted benzene diazonium ions. The nucleophilic reaction is shown to be diffusion-lim ited regardless of the substituent on the benzenediazonium ion. Chemic al modification results in a layered structure within the film where t he thickness of the modified region can be controlled over a range of a few nanometers to over half a micron depending on the time scale of modification.