Abstract
Pure organic films consisting of polypyrrole, polyaniline and a composite of polypyrrole and polyaniline electrodeposited in the ionic liquid EMIM-TFSI onto mesoporous carbon electrodes are tested for their hydrogen evolution reaction capabilities. The use of these intrinsically conducting polymers is seen as a way of stepping away from expensive and rare metallic catalysts. Co-polymerisation of polypyrrole and polyaniline in a 1 : 10 ratio in EMIM-TFSI was found to be doped with the TFSI(-) anion and be much more active to the hydrogen evolution reaction when compared to pure polymers. Tafel analysis of the composite gave a value of 144 mV/dec indicating that the Volmer step is the rate limiting step. However, stability tests showed an improvement in the composite's overpoential performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction.