Electrochemical characterization of poly(thiophene-3‑boronic acid) for aqueous environments

Abstract

Poly(thiophene-3‑boronic acid) (PTBA) was studied as a promising active material for aqueous environments in this paper. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the solubility and electrochemical behavior of it was studied in a range of aqueous solutions. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) results verify the successful synthesis. PTBA shows promising solubility qualities in certain pH ranges, especially in alkaline solutions. However, among alkaline, neutral, and acidic environments the best environment for redox properties of aqueous 1 mM PTBA is the neutral one. The peak current (ip) of 1 mM PTBA for 100 mV/s in the neutral environment is 0.01 mA and half peak potential (Ep/2) is −0.1 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Diffusion coefficient of PTBA is found as 4.97 × 10−8 cm2/s. The impedance tests also confirm that the neutral solvent decreases the charge transfer resistance.