AVS 52nd International Symposium
    Plasma Science and Technology Wednesday Sessions
       Session PS+TF-WeM

Paper PS+TF-WeM5
Proton/Deuteron Exchange in Functional Plasma Polymer Films (A Neutron and X-ray Reflectometry Study)

Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 9:40 am, Room 302

Session: Plasma Enhanced CVD and ALD
Presenter: C. Fong, CSIRO, Australia
Authors: B.W. Muir, CSIRO, Australia
C. Fong, CSIRO, Australia
J. Oldham, CSIRO, Australia
P.G. Hartley, CSIRO, Australia
K. Mc Lean, CSIRO, Australia
A. Nelson, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
M. James, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Correspondent: Click to Email
The plasma polymer (PP) deposition of chemically reactive monomers is frequently used to provide a chemical handle on inert surfaces. The characterization of the surface and internal structure of these thin films is critical in establishing their efficacy in technological applications. X-ray and neutron reflectometry are techniques that have become increasingly important in the characterisation of thin-film surfaces and interfaces; it now being possible to obtain angstrom precision depth profiles of a films composition. In this study, we have investigated the physico-chemical properties of allylamine plasma polymer thin films using X-ray and Neutron reflectometry in air and aqueous environments. Correlation of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) data with X-ray and neutron reflectometry measurements on the PP film versus air, has allowed the stochiometric composition of the film to be obtained. The mass density was found to be 1.305 g/cm@super 3@ and film thickness 27.8 nm which correlated well with AFM measurements. Interestingly, when neutron reflectometry measurements are performed in D@sub 2@O we observe a significant increase in the scattering length density of the film from 2.033 e@super -6@ Å@super -2@ in air to 3.81 e@super -6@ Å@super -2@ in D@sub 2@O. By performing contrast experiments in mixtures of D@sub 2@O/H@sub 2@O we have found that a significant proportion of the protons within the film exchange with deutrons from solution. The films were found to contain approximately 3.3% water and 30% of the protons in the film are capable of exhanging, indicating significant functionality within the plasma polymer film. The study demonstrates that rich physicochemical information can be obtained on nano-scale thin plasma polymer films in different environments by combining a number of surface analytical techniques.