SURFACE POLYMERIZATION OF ORGANIC MONOMERS ON CU(II)-EXCHANGED HECTORITE

Exposing layered silicate materials such as hectorite and montmorillon ite to aniline vapor results in spontaneous surface polymerization as well as intergallery polymerization of the organic monomer. The inorga nic-organic assemblies produced in these reactions possess many unique chemical and electronic properties, including the ability to function as chemical sensors. We have studied the polymerization of aniline on the surface of Cu(II)-exchanged hectorite thin films. The in-situ nuc leation and growth of these polymer films is studied for the first tim e using the technique of scanning force microscopy (SFM) phase contras t imaging. A novel mechanism for the nucleation and growth of the surf ace polymer film is proposed. The availability of Cu(II) cations via d efects or faults in the layered silicate structure is crucial to the f ormation of the subsequent conductive polymer layer.