Synthesis and electrochemical properties of poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) and its composites with conducting polymers

Abstract

The present study reports electrochemical performance of electrode materials based on poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) (PDHS) and its composites with conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), deposited on glassy carbon electrodes, in diluted sulfuric acid. Poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene), bearing redox active hydroquinone groups, was employed to the first time as an electrode material in combination with carbon, binder and conducting polymer. It was found that this quinone-based composite exhibits moderate electrochemical characteristics with specific capacity of about 50–54 mA h g−1. The comparison of rate constants obtained for GC/PDHS and GC/PEDOT/PDHS electrodes confirms the catalytic effect of conducting polymer PEDOT on the redox transformation of PDHS.