Influence of the activation growth methods and electric potential sweep rate on the morphology and electrical properties of polyaniline films

Abstract

The effect of the potential sweep rate and some growth activation methods on the morphology and conductivity of electropolymerized polyaniline was evaluated; these properties were studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and faradaic impedance. At potential sweep rates higher than150 mV/s the films suffered important changes on their growth voltamograms and on their morphological properties. As concerns the growth activation methods, it was found that the potentiostatic step and broader potential scans form open morphology films, while those activated with a slower scan showed a compact morphology. It was found a close relationship between morphology, capacitance and conductivity. Also, films with branched structure showed higher conductivity and capacitance.

Keywords

• Polyaniline
• conductive polymers
• electropolymerization
• morphology
• electrical properties