Electrochemical activity of chemically deposited polypyrrole films

Conducting polypyrrole (PPY) films are deposited on platinum by chemical oxidation of pyrrole from acid solutions of H2O2, K2S2O8, K2Cr2O7, FeCl3 and Fe-2(SO4)(3). Cyclic voltammograms and charge-potential data are obtained for these PPY films in 0.1 M LiClO4 and 0.1 M Na(2)SO4 solutions. Chemically deposited PPY films are electrochemically active and yield oxidation-reduction peak potentials that are similar to those of PPY films electrochemically synthesized in solutions with the same anions. The shape of the cyclic current-potential curves and the charge-potential responses of the chemically deposited PPY depend on the bath composition. The bath determines the counter anion introduced into the PPY film. The physical appearance and thickness of a film depends on the deposition time, acidity and composition of the electroless plating baths.