Abstract
Surface-confined redox-active polymers formed from a decaalkylferrocene derivative containing two trialkoxysilylbutyl groups, 1, are durable, pinhole-free electroactive films in nonaqueous solvents (E°′ =−0.09 V vs SCE). n-Si electrodes can be derivatized with 1 to give photoelectrodes that, when illuminated with light of energy greater than the band gap, cause the photooxidation of 1 with a photovoltage of 0.45 V. Electrodes derivatized with 1 show pronounced solvent effects upon switching from nonaqueous to aqueous electrolyte; in aqueous media current associated with oxidation of the polymer decreases significantly. Contact angle measurements of H2O on films of 1 approach 90°, showing that decaalkylferrocene polymer/solution interfaces are hydrophobic. In contrast, by covalently binding a cyanopropyl group into the decaalkylferrocene film using (3-cyanopropyl)triethoxysilane, the electrode response in aqueous media was similar to that in nonaqueous media. However, the contact angle of H2O is not significantly lower than for films of 1, suggesting the nitrile groups act to support ion transport within the film.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1893-1897 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Langmuir |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1993 |