In this work, electrochemical activity and electrical properties of polypyrrole (PPy) coated iron electrodes have been investigated. PPy film was electrochemically polymerized from sodium salicylate aqueous solution under conditions, which provided an increase of iron corrosion resistance. It was noticed that the pH of the solution and the applied electrode potential range during the study of the polymer properties had an influence on the observed electroactivity of PPy. The electroactivity of PPy was retained in neutral solution when the potential was scanned between −0.6 and 0.3 V. Also the resistance behavior of the synthesized polymer film as a function of the electrode potential during doping/dedoping processes was studied. Determination of the resistance was based on the impedance spectroscopy measurements and was performed in air, in order to avoid the influence of the solution resistance on the resistance of the studied polymer. Depending on the redox properties, the pH of solution and the potential range, different resistances of the polymer film during the doping/dedoping process can be obtained. In recent years, there is increasing interest to create a biodegradable, metallic, cardiovascular stent as an alternative for its permanent form.1,2 Iron and its alloys are promising materials for this application and have attracted attention of many researchers.2,3-6 Iron shows a good mechanical behavior, possesses favorable biological properties and a good biocompatibility. However, the degradation rate and the biological performance need to be controlled and optimized.1,2 One possible way to optimize the performance, is coating the metal with conducting polymers. 5,7 To support non-toxicity of such an implant, drug molecules can be incorporated in the polymer film, which could be released from the polymer during the implant degradation, and hence possible inflammation reactions would be decreased.One of the most interesting candidates among conducting polymers is polypyrrole (PPy).8-10 Because of its high biocompatibility, 11 good environmental stability, 8 higher conductivity compared to many other conducting polymers, 8 PPy can be used in various applications including anti-corrosive coatings 7 and controlled drug release systems.
12PPy like other conducting polymers exhibits redox switching ability between its reduced and oxidized states. 13 During the synthesis, a positively charged PPy backbone is formed and the polymer becomes oxidized. This is accompanied by the incorporation of the counter-anions into the polymer structure in order to achieve charge neutrality. [14][15][16] After the synthesis, the polymer can be re-oxidized (doped) or reduced (dedoped) in order to change some of its properties. However, depending on the doping/dedoping electrolyte, charge neutrality will be maintained by the movement of anions, cations, or both into and out of the polymer film.15 Polypyrrole behavior depends strongly on its oxidation state. Reduced PPy films behave as electronic insulators, however oxidation of the...