| Abstract
| - Surface modification of free-standing polyaniline (PANi) films and PANi coating on low densitypolyethylene (LDPE) substrates via UV-induced graft copolymerization with hydrophobic monomers wascarried out. Pentafluorostyrene (PFS) and styrene were successfully graft copolymerized on the PANisurfaces, rendering them hydrophobic. The effects of UV graft copolymerization time, graft copolymerizationtemperature, and monomer concentration on the graft concentration were investigated. The pristine andgraft-modified films were characterized using both surface and bulk analytical techniques. For the pristinePANi films, the loss of counterions from the surface region of the film occurs very rapidly in deionizedwater. This loss is very effectively retarded by surface graft copolymerization with PFS, hence preservingthe PANi's conductivity even upon prolonged immersion in deionized water. This enhancement in theelectrical stability of the PANi film was also achieved in moderately basic aqueous medium.
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