MODIFICATION OF INTRINSICALLY CONDUCTING POLYMERS BY ION-IMPLANTATION

The ion beam modification of polymers has attracted many groups in the past. However, only little attention has been paid to the ion bombard ment effects in intrinsically conducting polymers like polyacetylene o r polypyrrole PPY. We studied PPY earlier and found that ion bombardme nt leads to a loss of conductivity because of structural changes of th e polymer. The loss of conductivity causes interesting secondary effec ts investigated in the present paper. By implanting through masks or w ith focused ion beams it is possible to obtain lateral structured cond ucting polymers. The structures can be developed in 3-dimensional patt erns by electrochemical treatment and by galvanic metal deposition. Th e resulting structures were vizualized using scanning force microscopy . In addition the catalytic effect of platinum deposition on the elect rochemical dissolution of PPY was studied. The results bear interestin g consequences for future applications.