INFLUENCE OF MONOMER CONCENTRATION, SURFACE-RESISTANCE OF ELECTRODE AND CURRENT STRENGTH ON ELECTROCHEMICALLY DEPOSITED POLY(O-ANISIDINE) FILMS

The effect of monomer concentration, surface resistance of electrode ( SnO2:F coated transparent glass) and current strength on the optical a nd thermal properties of galvanostatically deposited poly(o-anisidine) films was investigated. Of the three parameters, the monomer concentr ation was found to affect the him properties markedly. The optical spe ctra showed that a higher selectivity in obtaining the conducting emer aldine phase can be achieved by the proper combination of surface resi stance of electrode and current strength, especially at low concentrat ion. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a positive shift in the final decomposition temperature with increasing monomer concentration, ther eby suggesting that a lower monomer concentration is suitable for the formation of the emeraldine salt form of the polymer. The scanning ele ctron micrographs show that the films exhibit a fibrillar morphology; the density as well as the length of the fibres seem to increase with the monomer concentration.