ELECTROCHEMICAL, THERMAL AND SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THICK POLYPYRROLE FILMS ELECTROPOLYMERIZED ON ACTIVE METAL-ELECTRODES

Free-standing, thick polypyrrole (PPy) films were electrodeposited on active substrates (Fe, brass, Zn and Cu). The properties of the deposi t grown on Fe resembled most closely that generated on an inert substr ate (Pt). The conductivity, thermal stability and electrochemical prop erties of the films were seen to vary with substrate activity in the o rder Pt<Fe<brass<Zn<Cu. The low oxidation potential and high dissoluti on rate of Al hindered film formation. The redox reactions of the PPy films were electrochemically irreversible and were diffusion controlle d. Raman spectra of the films were very similar.