Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of polypyrrole‐poly(styrene sulfonate) composite coatings on carbon fibers

Abstract Polypyrrole‐polystyrene sulfonate composite coatings have been formed on carbon fibers by an aqueous electrochemical process. The effects of process parameters such as applied current density, monomer concentration, electrolyte concentration, and the reaction time, on the electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole onto carbon fibers were investigated. The rate of formation of the coatings increased with the current density and pyrrole concentration. It was, however, independent of electrolyte concentration, especially for polystyrene sulfonate concentration [PsSNa] of 0.05–0.25 M. At higher electrolyte concentration [PsSNa] ≥ 0.30 M, the rate of coatings formation increased with electrolyte concentration. The order of the rate of polymerization with respect to the electrolyte concentration was shown to be 0 and 1.0 at low and high electrolyte concentration, respectively. The polymerization potential, Ep, increased with the current density and decreased with pyrrole concentration. SEM micrographs showed that the morphology of coatings varied with the electrolyte concentration. At low electrolyte concentration, the coatings were rough and granular; however, at higher electrolyte concentration the coatings were smooth and uniform. The doping of polypyrrole films by polystyrene sulfonate ion was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy.