INTRODUCTION OF HYDROPHILICITY OF POLYACETYLENE FILM SURFACES.

Polyacetylene films have been rendered hydrophilic by treatment with aqueous KMnO//4. The treated films were characterized by contact angle measurement, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We found that it is possible to lower the contact angle of H//2O on polyacetylene from 72 degree to ca. 10** degree without significantly affecting the electrical conductivity afforded after I//2 doping compared with similar doping of untreated films. The treated, hydrophilic films were found to be more permeable to aqueous ionic solutions than pristine polyacetylene.