Process for preparing free-standing films of conductive polymers

A process for the preparation of free-standing films, comprising at least a surface layer of a conductive polymer, comprising:

• a) depositing of a layer of a first polymer on a temporary support, wherein said deposition is carried out by a roll-to-roll technique starting from said temporary support in the form of a film and from a solution of said first polymer, and drying of the so-obtained film consisting of said temporary support and of said layer of said first polymer;
• b) depositing of a layer of a second polymer on said film obtained in step a), wherein said deposition is carried out by the roll-to-roll technique starting from the film of step a) and from an aqueous solution or dispersion of said second polymer, and said second polymer is a conductive polymer, and drying of the so-obtained film consisting of said temporary support, said layer of said first polymer, and said layer of said second polymer;
• and
• c) detaching of said temporary support from the film coming from step b) by dissolving said layer of said first polymer by immersion in a solvent and consequent release of a mono-layered free-standing film of said second conductive polymer, or by peeling off said layer of said first polymer from said temporary support and consequent release of a bi-layered free-standing film of said first polymer and said second conductive polymer,
• wherein said layer of a first polymer is a layer of poly(D,L-lactic acid) that is detached in said step c) from said temporary support by adhesive tapes placed on the sides of said free-standing film.