Charge storage ability in polypyrrole. Influence of the conditions of synthesis.

Summary form only given. The charge storage ability (mC of charge stored by mg of polymer deposited onto a Pt electrode) was determined for polypyrrole films synthesized from different electrical, physical and chemical conditions. Different solvents (acetonitrile, methanol, water, dimethylformamide) were employed during the electropolymerization of pyrrole. The donor number of the solvent (nucleophilic character) and the water content affected strongly the final properties of the polymer films. The electrical conditions employed during synthesis (polymerization potential) or used during control (potential limits employed in the determination of the stored charge) also influence the obtained charge storage ability. The use of high anodic potentials caused the oxidation of the solvent and the degradation of the polymer film, promoting a decrease in its charge storage ability.