Preparation of thin polymeric films on electrode surfaces by electro-polymerization of aromatic compounds with amino groups

Abstract

The electro-oxidative polymerization of 2,3-DAN + and 1,8-DAN + in acidic aqueous and acetonitrile solutions was carried out. In both cases, polymeric films were prepared as brown, thin coatings (0.5–5 μm) on electrode surfaces. The films were electroactive in aqueous solutions and were semiconducting. The formal redox potentials of poly(2,3-DAN) and poly(1,8-DAN) films + were ca. −0.20 and 0.16 V vs. a sodium chloride saturated calomel electrode, respectively, in 0.2 M NaClO 4 aqueous solution (pH 1.0). The electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of these films demonstrated that poly(2,3-DAN) is a ladder polymer with phenazine rings as electroactive sites and that the electroactive sites of poly(1,8-DAN) film are different from those of poly(2,3-DAN) film.