Role of polymer synthesis conditions for the copper electrodeposition in polyaniline

Polyaniline (PAN) layers are electrochemically synthesised by three differe nt procedures potentiostatic (PS), potentiodynamic (PD) and pulse potentios tatic (PP). Galvanostatic copper deposition and subsequent oxidation of cop per species are studied on the three types of PAN layers. A marked differen ce in the deposition/dissolution behaviour is found depending on the type a nd redox state of PAN. Copper reduction is easily initiated at low overpote ntials at oxidised PS and PP PAN specimens, whereas for oxidised PD layers copper deposition needs higher overpotentials. This difference is discussed in terms of various reduction behaviours of the three types of PAN. In gen eral reduced PANs strongly inhibit copper nucleation and growth. Still a ma rked difference in the metal deposition on reduced PD and PP PANs on the on e hand and reduced PS PAN on the other exists. This difference is related t o the varying amount of defects in the three polymer structures, evidenced by SEM observation of Cu/PAN-coated electrodes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.