Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PD, and poly(amic acid), PA, were layer-by-layer self-assembled onto quartz and mica substrates, S. Quantitative formation of the self-assembled films, S−(PD/PA)
n
, were characterized by absorption spectroscopy, by quartz
crystal microbalance measurements, and by scanning force microscopy (AFM). Pyrolysis of
the S−(PD/PA)
n
films by heating to 1000 °C proceeded via the formation of subsequent
carbonization of a polyimide intermediate which ultimately produced a graphite-like
carbonaceous film with conductivities in the 150−200 S cm-1 range. AFM images indicated
the assembly of laminar carbon nano islands with increasing n in S−(PD/PA
)
n
.