Characterization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic polythiophene–silver–copper thin film composites synthesized by DC glow discharges

Polythiophene with Ag and Cu particles were synthesized using DC glow discharges in order to study the transport properties and wetting behaviour of these polymer–metal composites. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron, transmission electron and atomic force microscopies were used to characterize the composites. The results indicated that the composites had nanotextures and microtextures with a thermally activated conduction mechanism at a low critical metallic volume fraction. The wetting behaviour of the composites varied from hydrophilic to highly hydrophobic as a function of the roughness and metallic content. In particular, the composites with a superficial nanotexture demonstrated a highly hydrophobic tendency.