Hydrophobic conducting polymer films from post deposition thiol exposure

Polypyrrole and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films react with a fluorinated thiol in either the gas phase or in solution. In contrast to the conducting polymer-initiated oxidation of thiols to disulfides, this reaction covalently links the sulfur to the polymer backbone, irreversibly decreasing the electroactivity of the polymer and dramatically changing the surface energy of the films. The reaction results in a modest decrease in the adsorption of proteins and cells to the film surfaces.