The surface of Teflon(R), which can be made hydrophilic by chemical treatment in a solution of solvated electrons in the presence of magnesium, can be restored by UV photochemical oxidation under oxygen. The Mg/NH3 treated Teflon surfaces are easily metallized in a single-step process by copper CVD when (MHY)Cu(hfac) is used as precursor (hfac, hexafluoroacetylacetonate; MHY, 2-methyl-1-hexene-3-yne). The growth rate of the copper film (thickness 200-500 nm) is in the range 30-50 nm/min. The Cu films, with a resistivity of 1.9+/-0.2 mu Ohm cm, are pure, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Patterned UV irradiation of the treated Teflon resulted in an identical copper pattern after CVD and, hence, selective copper deposition could be achieved on Teflon. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.