Ultrafast Electrosynthesis of High Hydrophobic Polypyrrole Coatings on a Zinc Electrode: Applications to the Protection against Corrosion

Abstract

Hydrophobic polypyrrole (PPy) coatings on zinc electrodes were prepared by a one-step electrochemical method. The process is ultrafast; 2 µm of PPy can be deposited in less than 3 s. It is thus compatible with industrial requirements for the coating of large surfaces for various industries (automotive, buildings, ships). The coatings obtained have apparent contact angles as high as 125°and can thus be used as cheap highly hydrophobic surfaces. They have been fully characterized using various physicochemical techniques (EQCM, XPS) and their anticorrosion properties have been tested. It is found that postpolymerization heat treatment makes it possible to reach a situation where 1 µm of polypyrrole is equivalent to 1 µm of a zinc coating for preventing the corrosion of mild steel.

Electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole over AZ31 Mg alloy for biomedical applications

“…Petitjean et al [21] reported the ultra fast electropolymerization of pyrrole in aqueous media containing salicylate on oxidizable metals in a one step process and found that the current efficiencies of the polymerization reaction are more than 100%. Reports are also available on the electrodeposition of Py over metals like copper [22] and zinc [23,24]. The formed films typically had good adhesion and electrical contact to the electrode surface.…”

Ion and solvent transfers accompanying redox switching of polypyrrole films immersed in divalent anion solutions

“…Due to their stability under practical conditions, they have high conductivity and potential applications in a range of (electro)-chemical and physical devices [1,2], such as (bio)sensors [3][4][5], electronic devices [6,7], controlled release of drugs [8][9][10], mechanical actuators [11,12] and corrosion protection films [13,14]. In the context of electrochemical applications, a critical issue is the identity of the ion ("dopant") transferred upon redox switching of the film.…”

Recent Trends in Polypyrrole Electrochemistry, Nanostructuration, and Applications

“…Application of conducting polymers for anticorrosion protection dates back to the end of the 1990s especially to the work of Lacaze et al [57]. The fact that the polymer is redox active allows to define the electrochemical potential at the metal/polymer interface and therefore, importantly, bend the Fermi level at this interface; this had been recognized even earlier.…”