Synthesis of duplex nanoparticles in polyimide by the reaction of polyamic acid with Cu–Zn alloy films

Nanoparticle formation resulting from the reaction between polyamic acid (PAA) and alloy films during imidization of PAA was investigated. A Cu–Zn alloy film was deposited on a silicon and glass substrates by DC magnetron sputtering. A PAA solution was spin-coated onto the Cu–Zn alloy films and the PAA/alloy film samples were cured at 250, 300 and 350 °C, respectively for 2 h. The nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the curing behavior of PAA into polyimide (PI). The optical properties were measured using the ultraviolet visible spectrometer. The results showed that the very fine Cu2O and ZnO nanoparticles were distributed in the PI film and the size and density of the particles increased with increasing curing temperature. FT-IR results showed that the degree of the imidization increased as the curing temperature was increased.