Studies of the presence of dicarboxylic acids in the electrochemical synthesis of poly(aniline): Case poly(itaconic acid)

The electrochemical synthesis of a new composite of poly(aniline) and poly(itaconic acid) in aqueous medium is reported. The effect of dicarboxylic acids (itaconic acid monomer and polymer) on the electrochemical growth of poly(aniline) was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. Doping behaviour of the resulting films was investigated in the presence of itaconic acid and poly(itaconic acid) and compared to that observed when sulphuric acid was employed as electrolyte. The electropolymerisation is strongly affected by the presence of these dicarboxylic acids, probably due to interaction of the carboxylic segments with the radical cation (diradical dication) species generated during the electrochemical polymerisation. A proton dynamic was observed when the films were reduced electrochemically.