The effects of polyacrylic acid/polypyrrole composite coating on photocorrosion and photoactivity of pyrite electrodes

Electrically conducting polyacrylic acid (PAA)/Polypyrrole (PPy) composite films were prepared by electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole on PAA which was electrocheimically adsorbed on natural and synthetic pyrite (FeS₂) electrodes. The application of such polymer coating on pyrite, which is one of the semiconducting materials for solar applications, shows almost total protection against corrosion and can improve the photoactive character of the electrode. Addition of Ce(IV) ammonium nitrate into this system improved the photoactivity of the PPA/PPy composite. The composite polymer has higher photoconductivity than the pure PPy, because of the doping effect of anions on the PPA/PPy composite.