The actuation behavior and stability of p‐toluene sulfonate doped polypyrrole films formed at different deposition current densities

Abstract

Free-standing films of polypyrrole doped with p-toluene sulfonate (PPy/pTS) were electropolymerized galvanostatically at different deposition current densities and their electrochemomechanical deformation (ECMD) properties were measured in situ during cyclic voltammetry experiments. It was found that films exhibiting a higher cation-driven actuation strain were generated when a lower current density was used in electropolymerization, which also led to an increase in PPy conductivity and doping level. A decrease in cation-driven strain with time was observed in all cases due to a loss of pTS anions from the films. Raman, FTIR, and elemental analyses were used to characterize the films grown at different deposition current densities and no sign of excessive overoxidation was found. SEM images revealed that the morphology of the films was affected by the current density during electropolymerization.

DC electrical conduction and morphological behavior of counter anion‐governed genesis of electrochemically synthesized polypyrrole films

“…Discovery of intrinsically conducting polymers leads to enormous investigation of their physical, optical, and electrical properties to explore new paradigm of organic‐based electronic applications 1–3. Conducting polymers‐based few devices such as organic light‐emitting diode, radiofrequency identification tag, and field effect transistor have been commercialized, whereas its numerous prosperities such as p‐n junctions, Schottky devices, gas sensors, photovoltaic devices, supercapacitors, air electrodes, and actuators have been widely reported in literature 4–7. Properties of conducting polymers such as polypyrrole (PPY), polythiophenes, polyaniline, polyparaphenylene vinylene, polyfuran, polyvinylcarbazole, and polyindole are governed by the type of anions used, concentration of monomers, temperature of synthesis, nature of solvent, and so forth 8, 9.…”

Electrodeposition of polypyrrole films on aluminum surfaces from a p-toluene sulfonic acid medium

“…Additionally, Paloumpa et al studied the corrosion protection of aluminum surfaces by PPy chemically deposited from phosphoric acid and conclude that coated surfaces presented excellent corrosion resistance 19 . Aromatic sulfonates can act as dopants to PPy and influence the electrical and electrochemical properties of PPy films 20,21 . Although the corrosion performance of PPy films deposited in sulfonic acid media have been reported for iron surfaces 22 , the corrosion protection of aluminum surfaces coated with PPy films deposited from a p-toluene sulfonic acid medium has not been investigated.…”

The Alphabet of Nanostructured Polypyrrole

“…The external signal imposed to invoke oxidation may have different forms; hence, various electropolymerization techniques may be applied, including potentiostatic [80], galvanostatic [81], potentiodynamic [82], or pulsed [83] techniques (Figure 3). It was shown by Spinks that to obtain a material of high conductivity with superior mechanical properties, careful solvent-washing steps are required [84].…”