Plasma polymerized films for sensor devices

Miniaturization with semiconductor microfabrication or micromachining techniques is one of the main concerns in sensor technologies. For the combination of sensor and microelectronics technology, polymers should be fabricated in a mass-producible and miniaturization-conscious manner as an interface. The polymers fabricated in conventional manners could have potential problems, e.g., obtaining thin ( < 1 mu m) and homogeneous films. Plasma-polymerized films, which are made in a glow discharge or plasma in a Vapor phase, offer a new alternative. This review describes the several characteristics, properties, and applications of plasma-polymerized films in both chemical and biological fields.