Formation of Supramolecular Structure of Electropolymerized Acryl Films

Abstract

The studies on the mechanism and kinetics of formation of a polymer layer on metallic cathodes by electropolymerization of acrylamide, formaldehyde, and N-methylolacrylamide in an aqueous environment are reviewed. A model for the formation of a supramolecular structure of films is described. The coating growth occurs in conditions of continuous synthesis of high- and low-molecular-weight polymer fractions. Removing low-molecular-weight products out of the film results in the formation of a porous structure. The orientation of monomer molecules and growing macrochains along the electric-field lines leads to a perpendicular arrangement of pores and channels with respect to the film surface and to the formation of an ordered crystalline phase of the polymer. The synthesized films exhibit an asymmetric three-layered structure, whose dense barrier layer forms at the metal/polymer film interface. The polymer comprises crystalline and amorphous phases.