Electrochemical composite formation of thiophene and N-methylpyrrole polymers on carbon fiber microelectrodes: Morphology, characterization by surface spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Abstract

Electrochemical composite thin film formation (∼0.6–0.7 μm) of thiophene and N-methylpyrrole on carbon fiber microelectrodes (diameter ∼7 μm) was carried out by cyclic voltammetry in order to understand and improve the surface properties and capacitance behaviour of carbon fibers. Carbon fiber microelectrodes were coated with polythiophene and N-methylpyrrole was electrografted onto the thiophene electrode. The electrocoated carbon fiber surface mophology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy and by FTIR-reflectance spectroscopy for their composition. The effect of monomer concentration and scan number on electropolymerization has also been investigated. The impedance behaviour of composite electrodes was characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composite of polythiophene and poly- N-methylpyrrole exhibits better charge storage properties than polythiophene coated carbon fiber microelectrodes.