INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACIDIC DOPANT ON THE ELECTRODEPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF POLYANILINE FILMS

The effect of different types of acidic dopant namely, poly(vinyl sulf onic) (PVS), camphor sulfonic (CSA) and hydrochloric acids on the elec trodeposition of polyaniline (PANI) films by cyclic voltammetry has be en investigated and correlated with the morphology and properties of t he polymers produced. The polymer films were studied by cyclic voltamm etry, electron microscopy, u.v.-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffractio n and conductivity measurements. The nucleation step of the electrodep osition of PANI depends on the counter-ion of the dopant and significa ntly affects polymer growth as well as the morphology of the polymers produced. The properties of the polymeric films were also greatly infl uenced by the type of acid dopant used in the electrodeposition. Altho ugh all dopants used were protonic acids the conductivity of the polym er was affected by the counter-ion and could be enhanced by exposition to m-cresol due to secondary doping effects. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.