In situ AFM study of the electrochemical deposition of polybithiophene from propylene carbonate solution

Early stages of galvanostatic deposition of polybithiophene onto highly ori ented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) from propylene carbonate solution were inve stigated using electrochemical atomic force microscopy (ECAFM). The polymer film thickness was evaluated in situ using surface modification with the A FM tip and was found to be proportional to the grafting charge Q and indepe ndent of the deposition current density i in the current density range from 0.1 mA/cm(2) to 2 mA/cm(2). The first stage of the deposition was the form ation of polymer nuclei with an average height of ca. 1 nm; continuous film was formed at Q greater than or equal to 0.5 mC/cm(2). Even at the earlies t stages, the polymer featured grain structure with the average grain size of ca. 50 nm. The presence of the crystalline phase in the films was demons trated by the X-ray diffraction data. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Scienc e S.A. All rights reserved.