Optical and Electrical Characterization of Visible Parylene Films

Poly-dichloro-para-xylylene (parylene-C) film is formed through a chemical vapor deposition process, where monomeric gases are polymerized on the target surface at room temperature and are used as transparent insulating coating films. The thin parylene-C films exhibit uniform conformal layers even when deposited on substrates or surfaces with fine cracks, structures, and bumps. However, the film is highly transparent in the visible range (transmittance > 90%); thus, it is difficult to visually identify, inspect the coating process and check for any defects when used as an insulation film. Some reports have demonstrated the deposition of visible (hazy) parylene films through the control of the vaporization or pyrolysis of the parylene-C powder and sublimed dimers, respectively. Even though these films have been applied as device substrates and light extraction layers in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), their optical and electrical characteristics have not been extensively explored, especially for their applications as insulation coatings. In this study, the characteristics of visible parylene films produced by tuning the ratio of dimer to monomer gases via the adjustments of the pyrolysis temperature are analyzed with electrical and optical methods. Parylene-C films deposited within the pyrolysis temperature of 400-700 degrees C exhibited a haze range of 10-90%. A relative reflectance of 18.8% at 550 nm of the visible light region was achieved in the visible parylene film deposited with a pyrolysis temperature of 400 degrees C. Resistivity in the order of 10(10) ohm cm was achieved for the visible parylene films measured with the transmission line measurement (TLM) method. The films can be applied in advanced insulation coatings for various optical systems and electronic devices.