The actuation behavior and stability of p‐toluene sulfonate doped polypyrrole films formed at different deposition current densities

Free‐standing films of polypyrrole doped with p‐toluene sulfonate (PPy/pTS) were electropolymerized galvanostatically at different deposition current densities and their electrochemomechanical deformation (ECMD) properties were measured in situ during cyclic voltammetry experiments. It was found that films exhibiting a higher cation‐driven actuation strain were generated when a lower current density was used in electropolymerization, which also led to an increase in PPy conductivity and doping level. A decrease in cation‐driven strain with time was observed in all cases due to a loss of pTS anions from the films. Raman, FTIR, and elemental analyses were used to characterize the films grown at different deposition current densities and no sign of excessive overoxidation was found. SEM images revealed that the morphology of the films was affected by the current density during electropolymerization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009