Construction of nanostructured carbonaceous films by the layer-by-layer self-assembly of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride and poly(amic acid) and subsequent pyrolysis

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 degrees 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).