Emergent properties of spatially organized poly(p-xylylene) films fabricated by vapor deposition

A novel bottom-up process to deposit structured poly(p-xylylene) (PPX) polymer films, based on oblique angle vapor deposition polymerization, is introduced. In this process, monomer vapors produced by pyrolysis of chemically functionalized p-xylylene precursors are directed at an oblique angle towards a surface to initiate structured polymer growth. Inclined deposition induces growth of PPX nanofibers leading to a nanostructured surface comprising clusters of ∼100–150 nm diameter nanocolumns. Morphology of these films can be controlled by manipulating the substrate rotation during oblique angle deposition (i.e., helical, chevron and columnar morphology). The morphology of the nanostructured PPX films are characterized by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.