Influence of the electropolymerisation time on the nucleation mechanism, structure and morphology of polyfurane/perchlorate doped films

The influence of electropolymerisation time, tp, on the synthesis, structur e and morphology of polyfurane films doped with perchlorate anions, PFu/ClO 4, was analysed. The analysis of the nucleation mechanism revealed a mixtur e of progressive and instantaneous nucleation of small hemispherical nodule s controlled by spherical diffusion. The morphological study revealed an ordered nodular structure and different levels of growth from the first seconds of synthesis until higher tp value s. Dendritic formations on the growth face and the cross-section pores impl ied alternating planar and normal growth of the films. FTIR spectra study verified that the structure of these polymers was influe nced by t(p), so that the film aromaticity differed according to this param eter. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.