Effect of the protonation level of poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) on the ac impedance of humidity-sensitive PoPD/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite film

A composite film consisting of poly(o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has been prepared, and the effect of the protonation level of PoPD on the response of the composite to humidity been investigated by ac impedance measurements. The electrochemical system of the PoPD/PVA composite in a humid atmosphere is represented by an electrochemical equivalent circuit containing film (R-film, C-film), Warburg (W) and interfacial (R-ct, C-dl) impedance. R-film was increased with decreasing protonation level of the PoPD in relative humidity regions higher than 40%, but it was almost independent of the protonation level in humidity regions lower than this percentage. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.