Electrolyte and solvent effects of electrocoated polycarbazole thin films on carbon fiber microelectrodes

• Published in: Journal of applied electrochemistry Vol. 36; no. 8; pp. 889 - 898
• Main Authors: SARAC, A. Sezai, ATES, Murat, PARLAK, Elif Altürk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.08.2006
• Subjects: Chemistry; Electrochemistry; Electrodeposition; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Study of interfaces; Solvent effect; carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME); electrocoating; electropolymerization; Sodium perchlorates; cyclic voltammogram; Electrochemical polymerization; Surface treatment; Thin film; Thickness; Cyclic voltammetry; polycarbazole thin films; Organic solvent; Carbazole polymer; Electrolyte; Acetonitrile; Microelectrode; Electrodeposition; Electrochemical reaction; Carbon fiber; Modified material
• ISSN: 0021-891X; 1572-8838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10800-006-9145-8

Carbazole was electrochemically synthesized on carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs) in different electrolyte and solvent media. The characterization of polycarbazole thin films formed on micron sized carbon fiber electrodes was performed by electrochemical methods (i.e., cyclic voltammetric measurements, solid state conductivity measurements (four point probe), spectrophotometric methods (ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), ex situ spectroelectrochemistry, fourier transform infrared reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR)) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The best electrolyte and solvent in regards to yield, conductivity and charge for the electro-grafting was sodium perchlorate in acetonitrile, whose conductivity was 3.60 mS cm, had a yield of 89% and had a charge of 5.50C. The effects of scan rate, feed ratio, supporting electrolyte and solvent type on the electropolymerization are discussed.