Critical dependency of the conductivity of polypyrrole and polyaniline films on the hydrophobicity hydrophilicity of the substrate surface

The conductivity, electronic properties and morphology of polypyrrole and p olyaniline films deposited from aqueous solutions of the polymerizing monom er differ greatly according to whether they are deposited on a hydrophobic or hydrophilic substrate surface. For each polymer the conductivity of the film deposited on a hydrophobic substrate is similar to 10(4) greater than that of the film of approximately the same thickness deposited on a hydroph ilic surface. Films of increasing thickness exhibit a "memory effect" induc ed by the nature of the original substrate surface.