ORDERED CONDUCTING FILMS OF THE INORGANIC POLYMER (LIMO3SE3)(N) CAST FROM SOLUTION

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions of the inorganic polymer (LiMo3Se3)(n) are cast or spin coated to form lustrous metallic films after heating in vacuo. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultrahigh-vacuum scanning TEM (UHV-STEM), X-ray diffraction, and SEM microprobe analysis confirm that the films consist of locally ordered linear chains and chain bundles of(LiMo3Se3)(n). Thick (greater than or equal to 1 mu m) free-standing foillike films display thermally activated conductivity and a low resistivity of 5 x 10(-3) Ohm cm(-1) at 23 degrees C. Highly oriented thin films (<1 mu m), prepared by the flowing of solutions, display order over 160 mu m, as confirmed by absorbance polarized light microscopy.