PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MIXED CONDUCTING COMPOSITES OBTAINED BY ELECTROPOLYMERIZATION OF PYRROLE INTO PERFLUORINATED IONOMER GELS

Polypyrrole/Nafion® composites have been synthesized by the electropolymerization of pyrrole into a stiff gel of a perfluorinated ionomer (Nafion®). These composites have high electronic conductivities (150 S cm-1). In addition, we give evidence of free sulfonic groups not associated with the oxidized polypyrrole. These composites will therefore retain the ability to exchange the cations of the free sulfonic groups not engaged in the doping of polypyrrole. The composition and characteristics of the final composites have been investigated as a function of the initial concentration of pyrrole in the Nafion® gel and of the electrosynthesis charge. © 1990.