Growth kinetics of plasma-polymerized films

Abstract

The growth kinetics of polymer thin films prepared by plasma-based deposition method were explored using atomic force microscopy. The growth behavior of the first layer of the polythiophene somewhat differs from that of the other layers because the first layer is directly deposited on the substrate, whereas the other layers are deposited on the polymer itself. After the deposition of the first layer, each layer is formed with a cycle of 15 s. The present work represents the growth kinetics of the plasma-polymerized films and could be helpful for further studies on growth kinetics in other material systems as well as for applications of plasma-polymerized thin films.

Plasma polymerization using helium atmospheric‐pressure plasma jet with heptylamine monomer

“…The topography of the HE‐PS appears similar to that treated with a helium microplasma jet in our previous work, which is likely a result of ionic etching . However, the ppHEPTYL‐HE‐PS has a much smoother surface suggesting deposition of a thin film …”

VUV Photodeposition of Thiol-Terminated Films: A Wavelength-Dependent Study

“…Plasma polymers with diverse surface topographies are well-known in the literature. − UV-PA:S appears to present Volmer–Weber growth morphology, where incoming film-forming precursors have more affinity for one another than for the (c-Si) substrate surface. As a result, they tend to form clusters which grow into 3D islands that can eventually coalesce and merge into a continuous film. ,, In terms of surface energy, γ, the deposit tends to form islands minimizing its surface, if its γ is significantly different from that of the underlying substrate, since no intermolecular interactions with the substrate occur.…”

Directed Self-Assembly on Photo-Crosslinked Polystyrene Sub-Layers: Nanopattern Uniformity and Orientation

“…The thickness of the various films was measured at each step using a film thickness measurement instrument (F20-UV, Filmetrics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). The surface energies can be calculated from the Owens–Wendt geometric mean equation by measuring contact angles of water and diiodomethane (DM) via contact angle analyzer (DSA100, Figure S1 inset) (Krüss, Hamburg, Germany), which divides the surface free energy into the dispersive γ s D and γ s P terms [ 34 ]. The water and diiodomethane test liquids dropped on the PS surfaces and the contact angles were measured three times for each sample and the mean value was used.…”