Electrodeposited metals at conducting polymer electrodes I—Effect of particle size and film thickness on electrochemical response

Conducting polymers are electrochemically polymerized at platinum electrode substrates. The thickness, porosity and surface morphology of the resulting films are controlled by the charge passing during electropolymerization step and the synthesis conditions. The polymer films are modified by electrochemically depositing platinum particles. The technique of deposition depends on applying a programmed potential pulse at the polymer film from a solution containing platinum complex that resulted in the formation of platinum particles of controlled size and distribution. The effect of changing the size of platinum particles and polymer film thickness on the voltammetric behavior of the resulting hybrid material showed noticeable changes in the electro-catalytic current in acid medium. On the other hand, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments showed that diffusion and charge-transfer rate increased in the order: unmodified polymer films, thin polymer films containing small size/amount of platinum particles and relatively thick polymer films containing larger size/amount of platinum particles. The morphology of polymer films, size and distribution of platinum particles in the film were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The presence of platinum and its distribution over the film surface was confirmed from the X-ray dispersive analysis and surface mapping. The hybrid materials are good candidates for the application in devices for exchange of hydrogen ions.