The effect of anion identity on the viscoelastic properties of polyaniline films during electrochemical film deposition and redox cycling

Acoustic admittance measurements at thickness shear mode resonators were used to determine shear moduli for polyaniline films during their potentiodynamic electrodeposition and subsequent redox cycling in aqueous background electrolyte. Data were acquired for films doped with perchlorate, sulphate or chloride anion. For all media, film shear moduli increased progressively with film thickness, from values consistent with a diffuse fluid-like layer to values typical of a viscoelastic material. At any given thickness, both the storage and loss moduli were largest in perchlorate medium; values in chloride and sulphate media were similar to each other, but smaller than in perchlorate. These measures of polymer dynamics are consistent with a previous classification of polyaniline film behaviour, in which perchlorate-doped films are viewed as compact while chloride- and sulphate-doped films are viewed as more open. In monomer-free background electrolyte solution, both film shear modulus components for all anions increased modestly upon film oxidation. Despite some hysteresis on the timescale of slow scan voltammetry, these variations were chemically reversible. Based on measurements involving deposition from chloride medium and transfer to sulphate medium, film shear moduli respond promptly to changes in dopant identity; this is consistent with rapid redox-driven exchange of anions with the bathing electrolyte.