Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Highly reflective and surface conductive silvered polyimide films have been prepared by the incorporation of the (1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedionato)silver(I) complex into a dimethylacetamide solution of the poly(amic acid) formed from 3,3',4,4'-benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA) and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA). Thermal curing of the silver(I)- containing poly(amic acid) films leads to cycloimidization with concomitant silver(I) reduction yielding a reflective and conductive silvered film surface.