Chemical and electrochemical characterization of chemically synthesized conducting polypyrrole

Abstract

Abstract The conducting polypyrrole chemically synthesized in water, using the variable concentrations of FeCl 3 and CuCl 2 as oxidizing agents, was chemically and electrochemically characterized and compared with electrochemically generated polypyrrole. According to the results of elemental analysis and counter ion determinations, it can be concluded that a mixture of dimer and trimer was obtained using CuCl 2 , i.e., a dimer composition using FeCl 3 as an oxidant. Cyclic voltammetric studies of polypyrrole obtained by using FeCl 3 as an oxidant showed no evidence of polypyrrole decomposition after repetitive cycling. The voltammograms showed also that after the oxidation reaction a high capacitive current remained, confirming the assumption that the capacitive current is intrinsically associated with polypyrrole, irrespective of the way of its preparation. Cyclic voltammogram of the polypyrrole synthesized by oxidation with CuCl 2 showed different shape, probably influenced by the presence of copper ions incorporated in polymers. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.