One aspect of the invention relates to a linker-free, one-step method of
grafting polymer films onto organic substrates, and the films obtained by
such a method. In certain embodiments, the grafted polymer films are
conductive. In certain embodiments, said grafting method utilizes the
ability for Friedel-Crafts catalyst to form radical cations from organic
substrates. In one embodiment, the method provides
poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) thin films grafted to organic
substrates. In other embodiments, the method is applicable to the
polymerization of other monomers to yield conducting polymers, such as
polyanilines, polypyrroles, polyfurans, polythiophenes and their
derivatives. Remarkably, the polymer films grafted by the inventive
methods show enormous increases in adhesion strength. Further, in certain
embodiments, polymer patterns were easily obtained using the inventive
methods and soft lithography techniques. In certain embodiments,
well-defined high-density line-and-space patterns were successfully
obtained. In certain embodiments, e.g., when the polymer film is
conducting, the obtained conducting polymer pattern grafted on common
organic substrates can be used for integrated circuitry in flexible
electronics.