I. Kapui et al., Investigation of styrene-methacrylic acid block copolymer micelle doped polypyrrole films by scanning electrochemical microscopy, J PHYS CH B, 102(49), 1998, pp. 9934-9939
The preparation of a novel type of polypyrrole films is described. Spherica
l styrene-methacrylic acid block copolymer micelles with a hydrophobic core
of Is nm and a hydrophilic corona of 100 nm were incorporated in polypyrro
le films by electropolymerization from a mixed solvent with 80 vol % of dio
xane and 20 vol % of water. The properties of the block copolymer micelle d
oped polypyrrole films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and scanning
electrochemical microscopy (SECM). It was found that the self-assembled bl
ock copolymer micelles in polypyrrole behave as polyanions and the charge c
ompensation by cations has been identified during electrochemical switching
of the polymer films. The ejection of cations from the films was monitored
by SECM using an amperometric or potentiometric ultramicroelectrode tip du
ring different potential programs (potential step and cyclic voltammetric s
cans) applied on the block copolymer micelle doped polypyrrole modified sub
strate electrodes. The incorporation of self-assembled block copolymer mice
lles into the polypyrrole structure can represent an interesting way to cha
nge its properties. Different kinds of hydrophobic molecules can be dissolv
ed in the core of the micelle and thus incorporated into the polypyrrole fi
lms.