80 Applications of Surface Science 21 (1985) go-94 North-Holland, Amsterdam zyxwvutsrqpo HREELS AND AUGER STUDIES OF CONDUCTING POLYMERS W.D. JENNINGS, G.S. CHOTTINER, C. NATARAJAN, A.V. MEL0 and R.W. HOFFMAN Department of Physics, Case Wesfern Reserve iJniuersr!v, Cleoeland, Ohro 44106, USA W.E. O’GRADY Brookhaven National Laborafory, Upipron, News York 11973, USA and 1. LUNDSTRGM and W.R. SALANECK Department of Physics and Measurement Technology, Unwersuy of Ltnkiipq, Linkijpmg, Sweden Received 6 June 1984; accepted for publication 23 October 1984 High Resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (HREELS) and Auger Spectroscopy have been used to examine the surface of conducting polymer samples. The samples were 100 nm thick films of polypyrrole doped with either BF, or CIO, negative zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWV ions. The films were made in Sweden and shipped to the USA for study. HREELS spectra could be obtaineed without difficulty in the samples’ “ as-is” condition. These spectra showed broad bands corresponding to known polypyr- role vibrational modes. Exposure of the polymer to oxygen had no effect, but water could be adsorbed on the samples at 130 K. In addition to vibrational excitations. broader electronic transitions were also identified. Auger studies were performed in an effort to characterize the surface. These studies indicate that considerable non-stoichiometry exists in the surface region. There were, as expected, problems due to questionable sample cleanliness, sample charging, and electron beam damage. 1. Introduction The surface regions of inorganic materials often differ from the bulk in important ways. The same statement also holds true for organic polymers. The geometric arrangement of atoms, the elemental proportions, and the electronic structure of a polymer solid can be affected by the termination of the sample. Yet relatively little effort has been directed at understanding the polymer surface. This is surprising in light of the technological importance of polymers, but can be explained in part by the difficulties in working with polymer samples. First, it is very difficult to prepare clean polymers. Chemical impuri- 037%5963/85/$03.30 0 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (North-Holland Physics Publishing Division)