Polypyrrole-carbon fiber (Ppy-CF) composite films with carbon fiber (CF) content ranging from 15 to 20 wt % have been prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole at the surface of a CF-covered Teflon substrate following a layer-by-layer deposition approach. The composites have a high modulus of 8-9 x 10(10) dyn/cm(2), high tensile strength of 200-270 kg/cm(2), and good thermal stability. More importantly, these composite films showed electrochemical activity in their free-standing state. Thus, they can be used as the cathode material for a rechargeable battery without conventional metallic or conducting glass sheet as the current collector. Here, carbon fibers act as an electrically conductive skeletal electrode for current collection. The charge capacity of the film with a thickness of 120 mu m was tested to be 2.5 coulombs (C)/cm(2) and a specific capacity of 91 mAh/g.