Photoemission study of the copper/poly(ethylene terephthalate) interface

M. Chtaib, J. Ghijsen, J. J. Pireaux, R. Caudano, R. L. Johnson, E. Ortí, J. L. Brédas

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37 Scopus citations

Abstract

The metallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) by copper has been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (x-ray and vacuum ultraviolet). The results are interpreted in the light of a valence-effective-Hamiltonian band-structure calculation on the PET polymeric chain and by comparison with earlier work on copper oxides. The theoretical valence-band density of states is in very good agreement with the photoelectron spectra of PET and allows us to present a detailed interpretation of the valence electronic structure of PET. Upon metallization, we find that, for low coverages (<5×1014 Cu atoms/cm2) copper binds preferentially to the oxygen from the carbonyl (CO) and the ether (CO) groups of the PET. At coverages near 7.5×1014 Cu atoms/cm2, the additional copper remains metallic and gives rise to a three-dimensional islandlike growth mode. The low reactivity towards PET stands in sharp contrast to the case of other transition metals, like Ti and Cr.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)10815-10825
Number of pages11
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume44
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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