Electronically Conductive Composite Polymer Membranes

Abstract

We have recently described the preparation and properties of ionically conductive Nafion‐impregnated Gore‐tex (NIGT) composite membranes (10). In this paper, we describe electronically conductive composite membranes prepared by electropolymerizing either pyrrole or thiophene within the ionically conductive NIGT membrane. These composites have the mechanical properties of the host membrane, yet the electronic conductivity of the NIGT/polypyrrole composite membrane is essentially identical to that of polypyrrole. For comparison, we have also attempted to electropolymerize pyrrole in Nafion membranes and films and in bare Gore‐tex and poly(vinyl chloride)‐impregnated Gore‐tex.