Corrosion-free electrochemical synthesis of polyaniline using Cu counter electrode in acidic medium

Polyaniline (PAni) was electrochemically synthesized from aniline sulfate (AS) in the presence and in absence of H₂SO₄ using Cu counter electrode. No significant corrosion of the Cu electrode was found while synthesizing from AS in presence of H₂SO₄, whereas relatively higher corrosion of Cu as well as contamination of synthesized PAni with corroded Cu were observed for the synthesis from aniline in presence of H₂SO₄ or from AS in the absence of H₂SO₄. Corrosion-free synthesis yields PAni free from contamination of Cu and exhibits smaller particle size and superior electrical and supercapacitive behavior compared to the process exhibiting corrosion of counter electrode.