The paper is focused on the preparation and surface characterization of gold coatings and nanostructures deposited on glass substrate. Different approaches for the layer preparation were applied. The gold was deposited on the glass with (i) room temperature, (ii) glass heated to 300°C, and (iii) the room temperature-deposited glass which was consequently annealed to 300°C. The sheet resistance and concentration of free carriers were determined by the van der Pauw method. Surface morphology was characterized using an atomic force microscopy. The optical properties of gold nanostructures were measured by UV–vis spectroscopy. The evaporation technique combined with simultaneous heating of the glass leads to change of the sheet resistance, surface roughness, and optical properties of gold nanostructures. The electrically continuous layers are formed for significantly higher thickness (18 nm), if the substrate is heated during evaporation process. The annealing process influences both the structure and optical properties of gold nanostructures. The elevated temperature of glass during evaporation amplifies the peak of plasmon resonance in the structures, the surface morphology being significantly altered.

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The paper reviews the problems of measurement of sheet resistance of ultrathin high-resistance layers of organic semiconductors and the essential underlying problems. Particular attention is paid to potential influence of the resistance of contact regions on the results of direct measurement of sheet resistance of stripe-shaped layers. In this connection, we present a methodology of double length stripe resistance measurement (DLSRM), used above all to minimise the influence of contact regions on the measurement results. We deduce theoretical as well as practical possibilities of DLSRM in the diagnostics and quantitative characterisation of unsuitable or even faulty contacts on high-resistance layers. The application efficiency of the DLSRM method is documented by the results of sheet resistance measurement on zinc phthalocyanine with cathode sputtered planar contacts of noble metals (gold, platinum, or palladium). As expected, gold is the best contact material, but even in its application one cannot neglect the influence of contact regions. The presented method is universal and generally applicable to all materials where sheet resistance is the relevant parameter, and its assessment is based on measurements of the layer resistance in stripe arrangement.

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This work is focused on plasma treatment of polypropylene (PP) and deposition of Au layer by sputtering and evaporation. Samples were exposed to argon plasma discharge (8.3 and 3.2 W) and the changes of the surface properties were studied by different analytical methods. Surface wettability was derived from contact angle. PP was metallized with sputtered and evaporated Au layer. Surface morphology was measured with atomic force microscopy. The Au layers were deposited by sputtering and evaporation. The thickness of the deposited Au layers was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of deposited Au layers were analyzed using NanoIndenter device, the surface morphology of scratches in Au was studied by SEM microscopy. The significant difference in the zeta‐potential at all pH range between pristine and plasma‐treated PP clearly indicates the effect of plasma treatment leading to a more hydrophilic surface. The surface modification of the PP substrate, even the wettability of surface and its roughness are modified, is not capable of significant changes in substrate‐metal nanoparticle interaction, since the thickness of gold nanolayers is slightly influenced by substrate premodification. Both sputtered and evaporated gold nanolayers on pristine PP become electrically conductive for thickness from ∼8 nm. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 53:2270–2275, 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers