INFLUENCE OF THE WORKING ELECTRODE METAL ON THE POLYTHIOPHENE STRUCTURE - RAMAN AND X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THEALUMINIUM POLYTHIOPHENE INTERFACE/

Polythiophene films of different thicknesses were obtained by electroc hemical polymerization of thiophene on to oxidizable (Zn, Fe and Al) a nd noble (Pt) metals. Resonance Raman and x-ray photoelectron analyses indicated, on the one hand, a better structural organization of the f ilms synthesized on to Zn, Fe and At in comparison with those deposite d on to Pt and, on the other hand, an increase in disorder with the fi lm thickness for each metal. In the case of Al electrodes, on the basi s of experimental data, it was suggested that during the first stages of electropolymerization, interactions between Al and C-alpha atoms oc cur at the interface and lead to the formation of real covalent bonds between the metal and the organic coating. This, in part, could explai n the strong adhesion of the polymer on the electrode surface, its sig nificant thermal stability towards the laser local heating and the enh ancement of the Raman intensity. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.