Electrosynthesis of a Net-like Microstructured Poly(p-aminophenol) Film Possessing Electrochemical Properties in a Wide pH Range

Electrochemical polymerization of p-aminophenol in aqueous sulfuric acid solution has been carried out at a platinum foil using repeated potential cycles at the range of −0.20 to 0.95 V (vs. SCE). The resulting polymer has good electrochemical activity and a fast charge transfer characteristic in the solutions of 0.5 mol dm−3 Na2SO4 with pH ≤ 9.0. Based on the spectroscopic measurements, a possible chemical structure of the resulting polymer was proposed. IR and XPS spectra indicate that SO4 2− ions are contained in the resulting polymer. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrograph proves that the net-like microstructure of the poly(p-aminophenol) film, which is a macroporous network composed of interwoven and coalescing fiber diameters of 100–500 nm and pore diameters of 500 nm–3 μ m, can be prepared using the electrochemical method.