Photoelectrochemical measurements of polyaniline growth in a layered material

Photoelectrochemistry is based on interfacial electron transfer, where one of the phases is the excited state of a semiconductor. In this work we inve stigated the photoelectrochemical response of polyaniline intercalated in a layered material. The photoelectrochemical response show cathodic or anodi c photocurrents depending on the applied potential, hence on the oxidation state of the polyaniline. Above 0.40 V in the oxidation and reduction proce sses, polyaniline shows n-type semiconductor characteristics and below 0.40 V in the reduction process, its behavior is of a p-type semiconductor. The composite SnP-C/Fe/PAni was obtained as a powder by polymerization of anil ine in the interlayer space of the host Tin (IV) 2-carboxyethylphosfonate ( SnP-C). The polymerization was done in an acid solution after incorporation of Fe3+ to the host.;ii-ray diffraction and conductivity measurements indi cated the formation of polyaniline in the interlayer space and cyclic volta mmetry measurements showed that the product is electroactive. (C) 1999 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.