Molecular assemblies, patterning, and deposition of conjugated polymers: Ultrathin films prepared using the layer-by-layer and precursor polymer electrodeposition approach

In this paper we present a combined protocol for ultrathin film formation and assembly of π-conjugated polymer materials using the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique and a precursor polymer approach to electrodeposition. While much work has been done on investigating the chemistry (synthesis) and properties (physics) of these materials, little focus has been given on the multilayer and ordering issues associated with ultrathin film formation especially using novel "wet-processing" approaches. This work details our molecular assembly approaches on conjugated polymer systems for polyfluorene and polythiophene derivatives. This was demonstrated in the following systems: a) ionene precursor polyfluorene polymers deposited as ultrathin films using the LbL technique from an aqueous solution and b) electrodeposition of polysiloxane modified precursor polymers. Important strategies are outlined for combining the two techniques as a novel method for preparing ultrathin films and patterning.