X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES ON PYROLYSIS OF THIN-FILMS OF PLASMA-POLYMERIZED ACRYLONITRILE

X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to elucidate the chemical env ironments of the atoms in as-deposited plasma-polymerized acrylonitril e (PPAN) thin film and PPAN films pyrolysed at the temperatures 573 an d 773 K. The photoelectron spectra are collected at the electron take- off angles of 20-degrees and 70-degrees. The C 1s, N 1s, and O 1s spec tra of all the samples demonstrate clearly that the structural modific ations take place owing to pyrolysis in the PPAN structure. Apart from the structural modifications, a decrease of nitrogen and an uptake of oxygen are evidenced. A few chemical species other than the usual one s are also detected.