Effect of Quaternary Cations on the Electrochemical Synthesis of Polyaniline and Its Degradation

Polyaniline(PANI) was prepared by adding three different quaternary ammonium salts to H 2 SO 4 electrolyte and the effect of the cations on the electrochemical degradation of PANI film was researched. The electro-polymerized films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The result showed that quaternary cations hindered gradually the polymerization of aniline with increase of the size, which made the porosity of the film smaller and the morphology more compact compared with pure PANI films. Although the cations didn't change the electrode reactive process of PANI, they affected the oxidation velocity of the films and the degradation rate of PANI in the following order: Bu 4 N + > Et 4 N + > Mc 4 N + , and the stability of the films was enhanced.