Heat treatment and aging effect on the structural and optical properties of plasma polymerized 2,6-diethylaniline thin films

The monomer, 2,6-diethylaniline has been used to deposit plasma polymerized 2,6-diethylaniline (PPDEA) thin films at room temperature on to glass substrates by a capacitively coupled parallel plate glow discharge reactor. A comparative analysis on the changes of morphological, structural and optical properties of as-deposited, heat treated and aged PPDEA thin films is ascertained. Scanning electron microscopy shows uniform and pinhole free surface of PPDEA thin films and no significant difference in the surface morphology is observed due to heat treatment. Electron dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic investigations indicate some structural rearrangement in PPDEA thin films due to heat treatment. Differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetric analysis suggest that the PPDEA is thermally stable up to about 580 K. The study on the optical absorption spectra of as-deposited, heat treated and aged PPDEA thin films of different thicknesses lead to the determination of the allowed direct and indirect transition energies ranging from 3.63 to 2.73 and 2.38 to 1.26 eV respectively. Urbach energy, steepness parameter and extinction coefficient are also assessed. It is observed that the optical parameters of as-deposited PPDEA thin films change due to heat treatment and do not change appreciably due to aging.

► Heat treatment and aging effect of plasma polymerized 2,6-diethylaniline thin films.
► The surface morphology of PPDEA is found uniform for all types of sample.
► Heat treatment introduces some elemental and structural rearrangement.
► The thermal stability is found up to about 580 K.
► Optical parameters were changed for heat treatment but not markedly for aging.