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Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 1: Introduction
Conductive polymers and
high-temperature superconductor materials represent two interesting
classes of electronic materials that have each independently received
much attention by the scientific community. Conductive polymers have
attracted much attention due to their large variability in electrical
conductivity that can be brought about through oxidation or reduction
of the polymer backbone. Similarly, the high-Tc superconductors
exhibit a number of remarkable electronic properties which are highly
influenced by the oxidation state of the electronically active copper
moieties. This dissertation describes some of the initial experiments
in which the two classes of materials are combined into functional
assemblies.
In Chapter 1, background
information on superconductivity, conducting polymers, self-assembled
monolayers, and intercalation is presented. Chapter 2 examines the
surface quality of high-temperature superconductors by focusing primarily
on the electrochemical response of superconductor electrodes. Chapter
3 looks into the deposition of conducting polymers as well as the effect
of placing a self-assembled monolayer at the interface. Chapter 4
explores hybrid assemblies of conducting polymer / high-temperature
superconductor bilayer structures that are used in the modulation of
the superconductor’s transition temperature. Chapter 5 probes the
intercalation of a conducting polymer into the interior region of a
high-temperature superconductor lattice. The research described here
provides insight into the formation and application of conducting polymer
/ high-temperature superconductor assemblies. In the remainder of
this introductory chapter, superconductivity, conducting polymers,
self-assembled monolayers, and intercalation chemistry will be discussed.
