Controlling Film Formation of Ag-Chalcogenate Coordination Polymer via Ag Ion-Doped Polymer Substrates

Coordination polymers, particularly those with one- and two-dimensional structures, have garnered significant attention owing to their excellent electrical and optical properties. However, the development of reliable molding techniques for fabricating thin films, pellets, and ingots remains critical for practical applications. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for the direct formation of continuous Ag-coordinated polymer thin films on polymer substrates doped with Ag ions. This process involves ion exchange between the doped Ag ions within the substrate and the protons of the organic ligands, followed by the formation of interfacial complexes between the eluted Ag ions and ligands. Time-resolved analysis revealed that ligand concentration plays a crucial role in thin film formation. Specifically, higher ligand concentrations accelerate nucleation, resulting in the formation of thin films composed of densely packed small-sized crystals. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for fabricating high-density, uniformly coordinated polymer thin films.