Template electropolymerization of polypyrrole nanostructures on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite step and pit defects

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Journal of the Electrochemical Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1838806· OSTI ID:659163

Noll, J D; Nicholson, M A; Myrick, M L ^[1]; Van Patten, P G ^[2]; Chung, C W ^[3]

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1. Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
3. Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, CA (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

Polypyrrole nanostructures with diameters {le}10 nm have been electropolymerized using step and pit defects on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as templates for electropolymerization. Step defects were naturally occurring, and pits were formed via oxidation of freshly cleaved surfaces of an HOPG water by heating at {approximately}640 C. Underpotential deposition of {approximately}80 mV caused polypyrrole to form only on the step and pit edges of HOPG at and not on the basal plane. The size of these nanostructures could be controlled by limiting the pyrrole polymerization time at anodic potentials. Recent modeling results allow the morphology of the deposition to be inferred, and the authors find the electrochemical data consistent with wire-shaped growth for up to 30 s at constant potential, after which the growth changes morphology. Scanning tunneling microscopy data confirm this result. Preliminary studies show that these polypyrrole nanostructures can be removed by sonication.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 659163
• Journal Information: Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 145; ISSN JESOAN; ISSN 0013-4651
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
DEFECTS
ELECTRODEPOSITION
MORPHOLOGY
ORGANIC POLYMERS
POLYMERIZATION
PYROLYTIC CARBON
PYRROLES
SUBSTRATES