REDOX PROCESSES IN THICK-FILMS OF POLYPYRROLE DODECYLSULFATE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALKALI AND TETRAMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDES/

A complete understanding of the mechanism of charge transport in condu cting polymers is essential to the design and optimization of these ma terials. In this work we present a systematic study of the redox behav ior of thick polypyrrole/dodecylsulfate films in aqueous solutions of alkali and tetramethylammonium chlorides. The results suggest that und er these experimental conditions alkali cations retain most of their s olvation shell when entering the polymer. The transformation of the re dox state starts from the solution side of the polymer and moves towar ds the electrode. The size of the hydrated cation determines whether t he counter ions move as a uniform conductive front or whether they pre fer moving through some pores in the polymer. The polymer was found to be irreversibly altered after the first redox cycle.