Pyrrole Electropolymerization on Copper and Brass in a Single-Step Process from Aqueous Solution

The electrosynthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) on copper and brass (Cu–Zn alloy) electrodes was performed by anodic oxidation of pyrrole in a sodium tartrate (C₄H₄Na₂O₆ 0.2 M) aqueous solution. The tartrate counter-ions slow the dissolution of the working electrode by leading to formation of a passivation layer on its surface, and pyrrole electropolymerization takes place. Strongly adherent and homogeneous polypyrrole films were electrodeposited on Cu and Cu–Zn alloy electrodes using different electrochemical techniques, such as potentiodynamic, galvanostatic and potentiostatic modes. The current densities of electropolymerization on brass are generally greater than those observed on copper. The corrosion behaviour of copper-coated electrodes, electrochemically modified by PPy films, was estimated by DC polarization and weight loss at different current densities in 0.1 M HCl solution. The synthesized polypyrrole films were characterised by several microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman analysis. Galvanostatically deposited PPy films are shown to be an alternative to common black-nickel or black-chromium as a decorative top-coating.