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Optical and chemical properties of polyterpenol thin films deposited via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

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Abstract

The development of novel organic polymer thin films is essential for the advancement of many emerging fields including organic electronics and biomedical coatings. In this study, the effect of synthesis conditions, namely radio frequency (rf) deposition power, on the material properties of polyterpenol thin films derived from nonsynthetic environmentally friendly monomer was investigated. At lower deposition powers, the polyterpenol films preserved more of the original monomer constituents, such as hydroxy functional groups; however, they were also softer and more hydrophilic compared to polymers fabricated at higher power. Enhanced monomer fragmentation and consequent reduction in the presence of the polar groups in the structure of the high-power samples reduced their optical band gap value from 2.95 eV for 10 W to 2.64 eV for 100 W. Regardless of deposition power, all samples were found to be optically transparent with smooth, defect-free, and homogenous surfaces.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support obtained from Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC). We are also thankful to the Advanced Analytical Centre (AAC) at JCU for the access to AFM and nanoindentation systems. KB is grateful for the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) and Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE) scholarships.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electronic Materials Research Lab, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia

    Kateryna Bazaka & Mohan V. Jacob

  2. Department of Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    Bruce F. Bowden

Authors
  1. Kateryna Bazaka
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  2. Mohan V. Jacob
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  3. Bruce F. Bowden
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Correspondence to Mohan V. Jacob.

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Bazaka, K., Jacob, M.V. & Bowden, B.F. Optical and chemical properties of polyterpenol thin films deposited via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Journal of Materials Research 26, 1018–1025 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2011.23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2011.23

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