Effect of carbon nanotubes and finely-dispersed graphite particles on electrodeposition of polypyrrole

Abstract The paper investigates the possibility of electrodeposition of composite coatings based on polypyrrole with non-functionalized carbon nanotubes or finely dispersed graphite particles from aqueous solutions of pyrrole with contained suspensions of the corresponding carbon materials stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate. The carbon particles/nanotubes suspension added to the electrolyte has been shown to significantly accelerate the electropolymerization of pyrrole and make for the formation of porous composites with an extended surface. Varying the suspension concentration it is possible to prepare composites in various polymer/carbon filler ratios. FTIR and Raman studies show that the chemical structure of the polymer depends on the nature of the doping anion, but not on the carbon particles and nanotubes incorporated in the polymer structure. Doping of the polymer with SDS leads to a relatively low electrochemical activity of the composites, which nevertheless increases significantly under cyclic polarization in sulfuric acid solution (0−700 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) due to saturation of the structure with movable bisulfate ions. The as-formed structure exhibits high stability of its electrochemical parameters.