This group of electrochemical systems includes such popular objects as electron conducting and conventional redox polymer films, fullerenes, etc. Their important property is an ability to be charged and discharged repeatedly upon imposing an external polarization, this electronic process is being accompanied by the extensive exchange with the ionic and neutral species between the film and solution. The physical characteristics of the film may change completely in the course of this process, eg from a typical insulator to a good electronic and ionic conductor in the case of conducting polymers. Kinetics of electrochemical processes at such filmcoated electrodes may be strongly modified compared to that at bare metal surfaces. This unique combination of properties makes these materials perspective for numerous applications, like electrocatalysis, batteries, capacitors, solar energy conversion, sensors, separating membranes, static and electromagnetic field screening.
The underlying electrochemical phenomena are in the process of investigation by numerous experimental and theoretical groups. During the recent period a great variety of traditional and modern techniques has been used for their study, for example dc and UC techniques, radio-tracer species, Volta-potential measurements, SIMS and flame spectroscopy, various in situ optical spectroscopies, STM and AFM, optical-beam deflection ("mirage"), quartz-crystal microbalance, kinetics of redox reactions at such electrodes etc. Thus, accumulated vast information needs in an appropriate interpretation to be used for practical applications.
The acute need in a forum for discussing the state-of-art of this rapidly developing area as well as of its fundamental problems has led to the arrangement of a conference specially oriented to these topics, International Workshop on Electrochemistry of Electroactive Polymer Films (WEEPF'95), held in Moscow, April 7-12, 1995. with participation of 65 experts in this area from 16 countries. A more detailed information of its program may be found in the section "Reports on ISE Sponsored Meetings".
Selected presentations at the workshop have become a basis for the papers published in this issue. Their principal topics are : l synthesis, structure and stability of the electroactive polymer films, electronic and spectroscopic properties, l charging/discharging process of the film at a large-scale potential variation, l low-amplitude perturbation techniques applied to electroactive polymer films.