STM of conducting polymer thin films formed by electropolymerization on graphite and gold

Abstract 1-Naphthol and 2,6-dimethylphenol were electropolymerized onto HOPG graphite and gold. The resulting films were studied by STM. Film growth is completely different on the two substrates. On HOPG, initiation preferentially occurs on steps, and growth continues on polymer rather than on the graphite surface. Poly-2,6-dimethylphenol films show periodic structures indicative of at least partial crystallinity. On gold, the whole surface is first covered by a very homogeneous and thin polymer film. Further growth is more irregular. These STM observations are compared to thickness measurements performed by RBS.