On the influence of electron energy on iodine-doped polyaniline formation by plasma polymerization

The influences that both electron energy and density of a plasma bear on th in film formation are examined in the case of iodine-doped polyaniline poly merization. The plasma was produced by means of 13.5-MHz radiofrequency-gen erated glow discharges in low-pressure (ca. 10(-2) mbar) air between electr odes. Four representative inner regions of the reactor were selected accord ing to the electron incidence. Given the uneven energy distribution found o n the inside of this kind of reactors, variations in the polymer structure formed in the presence of iodine were found and studied by elemental analys is, thermogravimetry, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The res ults indicate that the electric conductivity of polyaniline by plasma is a function of the iodine content and that such content is a function of the c ombined conditions of both reactor and plasma. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.