The effect of pulse electropolymerization on the electrochemical properties of polythiophene films

• Polythiophene films were pulse electrodeposited onto the ITO coated glass.
• Pulse current condition affected films electrochemical properties.
• High pulsating current and frequency increases films electroactivity.
• High pulsating current and frequency facilitates diffusion through the films.

Polythiophene (PT) films were electropolymerized using pulse currents in aqueous solutions on Indium Tin Oxide coated glass substrates. The effects of parameters like peak current density, pulsating frequency and duty cycle on the electrochemical, morphological and structural properties of PT films were investigated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, electron microscopy and infra-red spectroscopy techniques were employed to study the pulse electropolymerized PT films and the results were compared with those of galvanostatically electropolymerized films. An increase in the peak current density or using higher pulsating frequency/smaller duty cycle at the same average current density during electropolymerization led to deposition of finer PT structure which enhance apparent diffusion through the films and increase their electroactivity. The results of infra-red spectroscopy showed that applying a pulse current during PT electropolymerization does not alter polythiophene bounding structure except changes in the intensity of the peaks contributed to the doping level of the films.

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