Static SIMS of polyacetylene: the effect of chain unsaturation

Abstract

The static secondary ion mass spectra of high density cis-polyacetylene films are reported. Due to its highly reactive nature, the spectra of the as-received film surface are characteristic of that of a saturated polymer. After light Ar+ sputtering, the negative ion spectrum for polyacetylene shows a distinct fingerprint with a C2 -:C2H- ratio greater than one. Comparison with the spectra of polyethylene and other saturated polymers reveals that this is characteristics of a conjugated main chain. Hence, a criterion for determining the degree of chain unsaturation for a polymer surface is proposed using the C2 -:C2H- ratio. This shows great promise in the application of SIMS to the study of reactive conjugated polymer surfaces. © 1991.