Electrochemical formation of conducting polymer coating on porous p- and n-silicon substrates

Electrochemical synthesis of polyaniline was carried out in aqueous sulfuric acid solutions of aniline on porous p- and n-silicon under galvanostatic, potentiostatic and potential pulse regimes. It is shown that the introduction of catalytic quantities of oxidants, potassium hexachloroiridate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate and chloranilic acid, in electrolytes accelerates the formation of polymer films and lowers the overvoltage of electrosynthesis. The resulting polymer coatings are characterized by cyclic voltammetry and IR spectroscopy. It is shown that polyaniline coatings on porous p- and n-silicon electrodes are electroactive and conducting in anodic and cathodic ranges.