Electrochemical Polymerization

Advances in molecular electronic devices such as sensors, organic solar cells, and organic light emitting diodes have increased the interest and research on electro-synthetic conducting polymers. This chapter focuses on electrochemical polymerization (or electropolymerization) as a cost-effective and easy-to-use method for the preparation of electrosynthetic conducting polymer films. Electro-polymerized materials, characteristically, possess unique morphological, physical, electronic, and electrochemical proprieties which make them amenable to various applications. Electropolymerization is initiated by the oxidation of a monomer in an electrochemical cell, followed by the growth of the polymer film on the surface of the working electrode, which may be a carbonaceous, a metallic, or a conducting glass material. As the oxidation of the monomer is voltage-or current-induced, electrochemical polymerization is, therefore, a green chemistry methodology. Being devoid of the use of toxic oxidants, the technique ensures real-time controlled production of very high purity conducting polymer films. The films exhibit excellent electrical, electronic, magnetic, optical, and rheological properties. Polyaniline films in their pristine and doped forms and the films of other conducting polymers are discussed in this chapter.