LIMITATIONS OF POLYPYRROLE SYNTHESIS IN WATER AND THEIR CAUSES

Electrochemical and chemical synthesis of polypyrrole in water was studied. The polymer samples were characterized by FT-ir spectra, conductivity under pressure and coulombic capacity in a lithium cell. An estimation of the amount of carbonyl groups in the polymer is suggested as a measure of polypyrrole degradation during the synthesis. It is recommended that the electrochemical synthesis of polypyrrole is performed at potentials only slightly more positive than the potential of the polymerization threshold. For the chemical synthesis, a redox couple that satisfies the same requirement should be used.