ELECTROCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A POLYPYRROLE MONTMORILLONITE NANOCOMPOSITE/

The electrochemical activities of films prepared from chemically synth esized polypyrrole and a polypyrrole/montmorillonite nanocomposite are examined using cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. The nanoco mposite exhibits redox chemistry at potentials (V-p,V-c = -1500, V-p,V -a = -1100 mV) approximately I V more negative than in native polypyrr ole. Chronopotentiometric studies show that the capacities of these tw o materials; when evaluated in terms of mass of polymer, are similar, and that the charge/discharge plateaus are also shifted by approximate ly I V. Two models are proposed to explain these results, one based on the inductive effect of the encasing anionic sheets; and one on a red ox mechanism involving cation insertion.