Hydrophobic effects in surface-confined decaalkylferrocene redox polymers

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Langmuir; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la00031a043· OSTI ID:5713399

Albagli, D; Wrighton, M S ^[1]

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1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States)

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[degrees][prime] = [minus]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 derivated with 1 show pronounced solvent effects upon switching from nonaqueous to aqueous electrolyte; in aqueous media current associated with oxidation of the polymers decreases significantly. Contact angle measurements of H[sub 2]O on films of 1 approach 90[degrees], showing that decalkylferrocene polymer/solution interfaces are hydrophobic. In contrast, by covalently binding a cyanopropyl group into the decaalkylferrocene film using (3-cyanopropy) triethoxylsilane, the electrode response in aqueous media was similar to that in nonaqueous media. However, the contact angle of H[sub 2]O is not significantly lower than for films of 1, suggesting that the nitrile groups act to support ion transport within the film. 18 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 5713399
• Journal Information: Langmuir; (United States), Vol. 9:7; ISSN 0743-7463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
FERROCENE
REDOX REACTIONS
SILICON
DERIVATIZATION
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPLEXES
DIENES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
HYDROCARBONS
IRON COMPLEXES
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYENES
POLYMERS
SEMIMETALS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
400201* - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
360600 - Other Materials