Electrochemical polymerization of 2,6-pyridinediamine and characterization of the resulting polymer

Electrochemical synthesis of poly(2,6-pyridinediamine) (PPa) in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution has been carried out by using cyclic voltammetry for the first time. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the interpenetrating network structure of the as-prepared PPa film, which makes it possible that anions can be doped into the polymer in the oxidation process, and vice versa in the reduction process. The results from FT-IR spectrum provided a possible polymerization mechanism of 2,6-pyridinediamine.