Photoemission study of the copper/poly(ethylene terephthalate) interface

• Published in: Physical review. B, Condensed matter Condensed matter, 1991-11, Vol.44 (19), p.10815-10825
• Main Authors: CHTAIB, M, GHIJSEN, J, PIREAUX, J. J, CAUDANO, R, JOHNSON, R. L, ORTI, E, BREDAS, J. L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Coating, metallization, dyeing; Exact sciences and technology; Machinery and processing; Plastics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0163-1829; 1095-3795
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.44.10815

The metallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) by Cu has been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (X-ray and vacuum ultraviolet). The results are interpreted in the light of a valence-effective-Hamiltonian band-structure calculation on the PET polymeric chain and by comparison with earlier work on copper oxides. The theoretical valence-band density of states is in very good agreement with the photoelectron spectra of PET and allows one to present a detailed interpretation of the valence electronic structure of PET. Upon metallization, it was found that, for low coverages ( < 5 x 10 exp 14 Cu atoms/cm exp 2 ) Cu binds preferentially to the oxygen from the carbonyl (--C=O) and the ether (--C--O--) groups of the PET. At coverages near 7.5 x 10 exp 14 Cu atoms/cm exp 2 , the additional Cu remains metallic and gives rise to a three-dimensional islandlike growth mode. The low reactivity toward PET stands in sharp contrast to the case of other transition metals, like Ti and Cr.