Surface modification and structuring of electrical conducting and isolating polyaniline films

Laser ablation of polyaniline in its conducting and isolating form revealed very similar ablation properties upon irradiation at 308 nm. Both types of polymer film can be structured with high resolution at high fluences. The ablation craters have sharp contours and no debris contaminates the surroun ding area. At low fluences the creation of cone structures is observed. X-r ay photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the carbonization of the surface upon laser ablation. As preferred decomposition sites the imine groups in doped and undoped polyaniline are identified.