STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTING PLASMA-POLYMERIZEDFILMS FROM 2-IODOTHIOPHENE

Thin plasma polymerized films were produced in a microwave (2.45 GHz) plasma discharge using 2-iodothiophene as the initial monomer. The str ucture of these electrically conducting films (10(-6)-10(-1) S/cm), th e chemical state of the doping element iodine and the elemental homoge neity at the surface and in the films have been investigated by XPS, F TIR and AES. An interesting relationship was found that indicates some similarity to conventional polythiophene, prepared by electrodepositi on. Besides covalently bound iodine, considerable amounts Of I3- and I 5- were detected and also a small number of O-I bonds were identified.