Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of polyviologen complex modified electrodes

The electrochemistry and the spectroelectrochemistry of the polymer complex polyviologens-poly(styrenesulfonate) modified electrodes were examined in an aqueous solution. The surface waves observed at -0.65 and -1.20 V vs. SCE were due to reductions of the electrochemical active centers (viologen moieties) in the polymer layer. Excellent stability of the polymer complex modified electrodes was obtained on repeated scanning over the first wave, between +0.5 and -0.8 V vs. SCE, causing only a 5% decrease in the peak height after 100 cycles at a scan rate of 50 mV/s. The redox behavior of Fe(CN)/sub 6//sup 3-/4-/ was examined at the modified electrodes, demonstrating a mediated electron-transfer reaction through the redox centers in the polymer film. The change of the color of the polymer film on electrodes could be seen as red-purple. The absorption coefficient (..cap alpha..) at 560 nm of the polymer film was obtained as 1.7 x 10/sup 4/ cm/sup -1/.