SYNTHESIS OF POLYANILINE FILMS BY PLASMA POLYMERIZATION

This work presents a study on the formation of polyaniline films by pl asma polymerization using RF glow discharges with resistive coupling b etween stainless-steel electrodes. The polymer was obtained at a frequ ency of 13.5 MHz and pressure in the range (2-8) X 10(-2) Torr. Polyan iline and I-2-doped polyaniline films were synthesized as thin films t hat can be adhered to glass and metal surfaces. The IR analysis shows the characteristic polyaniline peaks with evidence that some benzene r ings are broken by the discharge energy. The thermogravimetric analysi s shows an increase in polymer decomposition as a function of the time of synthesis. This effect, the physical characteristics and solubilit y of the film suggest crosslinking in the polymers due to the continuo us impact of the electronic rain. The way in which the relative humidi ty affects the electric conductivity of plasma polyaniline films was e stablished. At room temperature and relative humidity of 40% the condu ctivity was between 10(-10) and 10(-12) S/cm. When the films were synt hesized with I-2, the electric conductivity ranged from 10(-4) to 10(- 11) S/cm with relative humidity from 40 to 90%.