Electrochemical study of charge transfer in conducting polymers

Abstract

The kinetics and thermodynamic aspects of charge transfer in conducting polymers were investigated. A restricted diffusion model was used to analyze kinetic data obtained from pulse-chronopotentiometric experiments. In poly 3-methylthiophene, the apparent diffusion coefficient decreased with the film thickness, whereas it remained constant with the electrolyte concentration. In thin films, thermodynamic changes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, specifically, the deconvolution of the two electronic transfers involved in the process. Using a Nernstian model including interaction potentials, the two electrochemical steps were well described. Finally, as expected, a correlation between the ionic radius of the dopants and the apparent diffusion coefficient was established in polypyrrole films.