ABSTRACT
Modification of the conductive surface layers can further endow the layers with improved comprehensive properties. This chapter discusses the preparation and modification of conductive polymer-based surface layers or coatings on polymeric or other types of substrates, and three general approaches were employed in the corresponding studies. The first approach is to blend conductive polymer with non-conductive polymer via solutions to modify material properties. The second approach generates conductive surface layers by polymerization in the surface layers swollen by monomer of conductive polymer. The third approach is based on surface treatment of inorganic surfaces and graft polymerization to form conductive polymer surface grafts. Glass or silicon surfaces are hydroxylated, and then reacted with 3-bromopropyltrichlorosilane or phenyltrichlorosilane. A broad range of commonly used materials, ranging from conventional polymers to glass, are not electrically conductive. Incorporation of conducting polymers on the surface of non-conductive materials can obtain new materials with significant application potentials.
