This paper summarizes the present knowledge of the chemistry and microstructure at metal-polymer interfaces formed on PMDA-ODA polyimide. The nature of chemical bonding was deduced from electronic structures observed by photoemission spectroscopies and interpreted by molecular orbital calculations. Bonding at the initial coverages of the metals studied are well described by the formation of metal-polymer complexes as a result of delocalized charge transfer from the metal to the polymer repeat

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... it. The microstructure was observed directly by transmission electron microscopy and ion scattering techniques. The morphology was found to be strongly dependent on the chemical reactivity of the interface. This correlation between chemistry and microstructure is important for understanding adhesion at the metal-polymer interface. Article published online by EDP Sciences and available at http://dx.