Lateral electrodeposition of polypyrrole onto friction — deposited PTFE

Thick films of polypyrrole tosylate have been electrodeposited laterally onto highly- oriented PTFE thin films forming the upper walls of thin-layer horizontal cells. Deposited films, which could easily be peeled off the PTFE surface as flexible films, were characterised by anisotropy of conductivity, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and polarised attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy. Although there is little evidence of bulk alignment through the thickness of the films, the oriented PTFE layer facilitates lateral epitaxial deposition of continuous polypyrrole film relative to uncoated glass and typically induces parallel striations into the PTFE-facing surface that mirror the spacings (0.1-.0mm ) of the prominent underlying rows of PTFE.