N-Vinylcarbazole-containing random copolymers were electrochemically coated (grafted) onto micron-size carbon fibre by constant current electrolysis and the resulting nanosize thin films of polymers and copolymers were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The efficiency of the electrocopolymerisation process on the carbon fibre surfaces under preparative constant current electrolysis conditions, depending on experimental conditions, was evaluated in order to ascertain the effects of copolymer thickness, dopant and morphology. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.