New Technique for the Fabrication of Conductive Polymer/Insulating Polymer Composite Films

摘要

The electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole on an ITO (indium-tin oxide)-coated glass electrode with an insulating film of poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, produces a flexible composite polymer film with electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties very similar to polypyrrole (PPy). The rate of electrochemical polymerization depends on the diffusion of the electrolyte across the PVA film to the ITO electrode. In particular, hydrophilic solvents easily penetrate into the PVA film. By applying this new process, we demonstrate a unique method of forming electrically conductive patterns in PVA film. It will be possible to develop electrodes for electrical stimulation of the nervous system using a conducting polymer, PPy. By a similar technique we have fabricated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT/PVA, composite films and have investigated their electrochemical basic properties.