EFFECT OF RELATIVE-HUMIDITY ON THE ELECTRICAL-TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OFPOLY(THIONAPHTHENEINDOLE)

Poly(thionaphtheneindole) (pTNI) conducting polymer has previously bee n observed to undergo a large variation in the electrical conductivity as a function of relative humidity. In this paper the electrical char acteristics of this material as a function of the adsorbed water are s tudied. Isothermal current-time and current-voltage plots can be under stood in terms of an ionic charge transfer inside the polymer, control led by a diffusion limited electrodic process. The charge transfer at the electrodes is probably due to proton reduction at the cathode and water oxidation at the anode.