Electrochemical polymerization of aniline on carbon fibers in aqueous toluene sulfonate solution

Polyaniline has been successfully formed by aqueous electrochemical polymer ization on carbon fibers. The coatings were formed under potentiostatic con ditions with toluene-4-sulphonic acid sodium salt as the electrolyte. The e ffect of monomer concentration, electrolyte concentration, and the applied potential on the rate of polymerization were studied. The amount of polyani line coatings formed on carbon fibers increased with increased aniline and electrolyte concentration. increasing the applied potential also increased the weight of coatings formed on the fibers. The presence of positive y-int ercept in the weight gain plots are attributed to the adsorption of the ele ctrolyte on the fibers before electropolymerization. The effect of the elec trochemical parameters on the degradation of the polymer has been analyzed using infrared spectroscopy. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.