Thin poly (3,3′-phthalidylidene-4,4′-biphenylene) films studied by scanning force microscopy

Thin 2–150 nm spin-coated films of poly(3,3′-phthalidylidene-4,4′-biphenylene) (PPB) on gold and silicon substrates with native oxides were investigated with scanning force microscopy and ellipsometry. The film morphology and film thickness were found to depend strongly upon the solvent (chloroform and cyclohexanone), the PPB concentration in the solvent, as well as the substrate.