Flexible multilayer electrode films consisted of polyaniline and polyelectrolyte by layer-by-layer self-assembly

In this research, we report the fabrication of flexible multilayer electrode films by layer-by-layer self-assembly (LBL-SA) technique. The conductive multilayer films consisted of weak cationic polyelectrolytes such as polyethylenimine (PEI)/poly(aniline) (PANi) and poly(allyamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(aniline) (PANi) were fabricated on poly(ethylene terephalate) (PET) substrate coated with poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) under-layer. (PEI/PANi)20 film was covered with N,N-dimethylactamide (DMAC) to promote metallic ions and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) layer was coated to avoid the hydrolysis of DAMC and metallic ion. The conductivity, morphology, and transmittance of electrode films were investigated by I–V characterization using the four terminal probe unit, atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and UV–vis spectrometry. The (PDDA/PSS)5/(PEI/PANi)20/(DMAC-Ag/PVP-Ag) electrode film fabricated on PET substrate showed the resistance of 15 kΩ and transmittance of over 70%. These experimental results showed that the conductive films with uniformity and transparence were formed on the flexible PET substrate by LBL-SA method.