HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE GRAPHITE FILM PREPARED FROM PYROLYSIS OF POLY(PARA-PHENYLENE VINYLENE)

Pyrolysis of poly (p-phenylene vinylene), PPV, up to 3000 degree C was studied in relation to the molecular orientation in the PPV film prepared via decomposition of a soluble precursor sulphoneium salt polymer and simultaneous biaxial stretching. The conductivity of PPV pyrolysed at 3000 degree C was strongly influenced by biaxial stretching and reached 10**4 S/cm as it was and 10**5 S/cm by SO//3 doping at three-fold stretching, while conductivities of non-stretched PPV were 10**3 S/cm and 10**4 S/cm, respectively. The conductivity obtained for the stretched PPV is comparable to that of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) or natural graphite.