Extension of the potential intervals of high redox activity and electronic conductivity of polypyrrole films on electrode surface via their electrochemical multi-cycle treatment in monomer-free solution

Abstract Thin polypyrrole films (thickness: about 30 nm) have been deposited at electrode surface via potentiostatic oxidation of dilute (1 mM) pyrrole solution in acetonitrile (AN). It has been shown that their subsequent treatment by means of multi-cycle voltammetry within a broad potential range (up to -2.0 V vs. Ag/Ag+ in AN) leads to their "activation", i.e. to a very strong extension of their redox response region in the negative direction as well as to almost uniform distribution of the redox activity within this potential range. Region of their high conductivity under in situ conditions has also extended significantly. Spectral and electrocatalytic properties of such PPy films befor…