Supramolecular structure of electroactive polymer thin films

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the supramolecular structure of polydiphenylenephthalide thin films that exhibit effects of resistive switching. The supramolecular structure of the polymer has been investigated using small-angle neutron scattering in conjunction with atomic force microscopy. It has been found that the internal structure of polymer films consists of structural elements in the form of spheroids. The sizes of the structural elements, which were obtained from the neutron scattering data and analysis of the atomic force microscopy images, correlate well with each other. A model of the formation of polymer layers has been proposed. The observed structural elements in polymer films are formed due to the association of macromolecules in the initial polymer solution.