When a thick film is thin

A polymer film remains effectively thin, even when it is hundreds of atom layers thick, because of the deposition of deuterated polystyrene on the silicon surface. The adsorption of a large number of chains on the surface hinders other chains and results in slow diffusion of polymer chains. Thin film polymers find application in electronics, controlling the alignment of liquid crystals, and high-temperature polymers for insulating layers in integrated circuits.