Plasma polymerization of aniline on different surface functionalized substrates.

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Chemistry
• Surface Science

Background:

• Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a versatile polymer with limited inherent conductivity.
• Polyaniline (PANI) is a conductive polymer with potential applications in electronics and sensors.
• Plasma polymerization offers a unique method for polymer synthesis and surface modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the plasma polymerization of aniline on functionalized LDPE substrates.
• To characterize the structure and properties of the resulting plasma-polymerized polyaniline (P3ANI).
• To explore methods for enhancing the adhesion and electrical conductivity of P3ANI on LDPE.

Main Methods:

• Plasma polymerization of aniline on pristine and functionalized LDPE.
• Surface characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM).
• Investigation of conductivity induction via polystyrenesulfonic acid coating and acid protonation (HClO4).

Main Results:

• Plasma-polymerized polyaniline exhibits a different structure compared to chemically or electrochemically synthesized polyaniline, likely due to cross-linking.
• Acrylic acid grafting on LDPE significantly improved PANI adhesion.
• Electrical conductivity was achieved by using a polystyrenesulfonic acid-coated substrate or HClO4 protonation.

Conclusions:

• Plasma polymerization provides a distinct route to PANI synthesis with unique structural characteristics.
• Surface functionalization of LDPE is crucial for enhancing PANI adhesion and enabling conductivity.
• The study demonstrates the potential of plasma-polymerized polyaniline on functionalized LDPE for electronic applications.