DEGRADATION KINETICS OF POLYPYRROLE FILMS

Kinetic measurements have been made on the degradation reaction of electrochemically prepared polypyrrole films. The measurements were made by applying proper potentials at polymer film covered electrodes in aqueous sulfuric acid solutions and monitoring the absorbance of the electrolysis product as a function of time. Parameters included for the study were: the potentials at which the films were made, degradation potential, acid concentration, and film thickness. Films degrade faster at higher degradation potentials, in higher acid concentrations, and for thinner films. When the films are prepared at higher potentials than 1.30 V, they are much more stable, suggesting that polymers prepared at higher electrode potentials may have different structures and/or morphology from those prepared at lower potentials.