Polarization Relaxation in Electrodeposited Polyphenylene‐Oxide Films

Impedance measurements of electrodeposited polyphenylene‐oxide films, ∼250Å thick, show a polarization relaxation for the metal/polymer/electrolyte interface. The initial polarization following a potential perturbation is distributed across the film. Relaxation follows to a much larger polarization characteristic of a bare metal/electrolyte interface. Kinetics are controlled by ion transport within the film and relaxation times range between 1 and 10 −4 s. Results are reported for films in strong acids and bases. In the former case, ionic permeability can be reversibly altered by factors > 10 3 .