This program will attempt, purportedly for the first time, to fabricate thin film heterostructures of electroactive polymers in which the structure and architecture of the films are manipulated at the molecular level. The new materials formed from these complex molecular assemblies will be studied for the determination of their optical properties, electrical properties, which will provide new insights into the fundamental behavior of electroactive polymers and reveal new opportunities for thin film devices and microelectronic sensors. The overall objectives of the research is to fabricate, characterize, and evaluate novel, highly ordered, molecular assemblies of electroactive polymers. Specifically, .e monolayer forming systems based on electroactive polymers will be developed and utilized in conjunction with previously developed electroactive monolayers to fabricate complex heterostructures comprised of functionally distinct layers arranged at the molecular level to achieve specific electrical, optical, or chemical response. Particular attention will be paid to monolayer forming systems that provide the highest level of order and orientation of the electroactive polymer component and a high degree of processing flexibility.
