Controlling the Adhesion of Conducting Polymer Films with Patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers

Abstract

A photosensitive self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is selectively irradiated to fabricate a pattern on an Au electrode, and a thin film of aniline or 3-methylthiophene is deposited on it by electropolymerization. Adhesion of the polymer films can be controlled by the monolayer terminal group. Applying tape to the sample and peeling it away selectively removes the conducting polymer film to the tape in a near-micron resolution pattern.