Inverse Chemical Vapor Deposition: A Novel Single Stage Synthesis of Highly Reflective and Conductive Silvered Polymeric Films

Highly reflective and surface conductive flexible polyimide films have been prepared by the incorporation of silver(I) acetate and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione into a dimethylacetamide solution of the poly(amic acid) formed from 3,3‘,4,4‘-benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride and 4,4‘-oxydianiline. Thermal curing of the silver(I)-containing poly(amic acid) leads to cycloimidization of the polyimide precursor with concomitant silver(I) reduction, yielding a reflective and conductive silver surface approaching that of the native metal. The metalized films retain the essential mechanical and thermal properties of the parent film. Films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, tapping mode atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and conductivity, reflectivity, thermal, and mechanical measurements.