Polythiophene (Pth) bilayer films each consists of a nanotube layer and a compact layer had been prepared by electrochemical polymerization and using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes as template. The films were treated by mechanical polishing and freeze drying to improve the degree of orientation of nanotubes and their surface smoothness. A treated Pth bilayer film can adhere strongly on glass with its nanotube surface by applying a dragging preload. The applied dragging preload caused the original vertically aligned Pth nanotube array to tilt opposite to the direction of preload, which induced a superstrong shear adhesion force of up to 144 +/- 30 N cm-2 for the film with a tube length of 26 mu m as the film was dragged along the direction of preload. However, the shear adhesion force opposite to the direction of dragging preload was relatively low (44 +/- 17 N cm-2). The direction-dependent force management of Pth bilayer films is quite similar to that gecko does, indicating the potential for developing advanced adhesive systems. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012