Charge-transport properties of an electrode-confined redox polymer derived from a monomer consisting of a quinone flanked by two benzylviologen subunits

  • Diane K. Smith
  • , Gregg A. Lane
  • , Mark S. Wrighton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrochemical and optical spectroelectrochemical characterization of an electrode-confined siloxane-based polymer having two benzylviologen subunits flanking a benzoquinone subunit is reported. The polymer, (BV-Q-BV6+)n, is formed by hydrolysis of the -Si(OMe)3 groups of the monomer I, 1,1″-[2,5-dichloro-3,6-dioxo-1,4-cyclohexadiene-1,4-diyl)bis[imino-2,1- ethanediyl(dimethyliminio)methylene-1,4-phenylenemethylene]]bis[1′-[[4- (trimethoxysilyl)phenyl]methyl]-4,4′-bipyridinium. Further, electrochemical and optical properties of the solution analogue of I are reported. The (BV-Q-BV6+) unit has two fixed positive charges, one in each of the BV-Q links. The (BV-Q-BV6+) unit is reducible by a 6e-/2H+ process in a manner roughly consistent with the behavior of BV2+ (E°′(BV2+/+) ≈-0.5 V vs SCE; E°′(BV+/0) ≈-0.9 V vs SCE) and Q (E°′(Q/QH2) ≈ -0.3 V vs SCE at pH 7) studied separately in solution and as siloxane-based polymers confined to electrodes. The important finding is that the (BV-Q-BV6+)n system shows pH-dependent rectification in the sense that at low pH, less than ∼6, the reduction of the Q centers to QH2 cannot be electrochemically reversed, even at electrode potentials significantly positive of E°′(Q/QH2). Thus, reducing equivalents can be kinetically and thermodynamically trapped in the form of QH2. The rectification observed is established to be due to a combination of kinetic, thermodynamic, and structural factors all consistent with the conclusion that reduction of all Q centers to QH2 occurs via reducing equivalents delivered through the BV2+/+ system and that the reverse process is possible only above a certain pH, ≥6. Studies of conventional electrode-confined bilayers (BV2+)n/(Q)n and electrode-confined (Q)n are reported and reveal factors influencing the rectification in (BV-Q-BV6+)n: charge transport in (Q)n via Q/QH2 self-exchange is very sluggish but reduction of Q to QH2 via BV+ can be fast. Previous studies of (BV2+/+)n show that charge transport via BV2+/+ self-exchange can be fast and is pH-independent, but steady-state charge transport via BV2+/+ self-exchange in (BV-Q-BV6+)n is significantly slower and is modestly pH dependent in a manner consistent with cross exchange between the BV2+/+ and Q/QH2 contributing to charge transport at pH ≥6 but not for pH <6. The temperature dependence of steady-state charge transport in (BV-Q-BV6+)n shows an Arrhenius activation energy of 50-60 kJ/mol.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2616-2628
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry
Volume92
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

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