We report the first dynamic in situ electrochemical neutron reflectivity (NR) measurements on electroactive films. By using a boxcar integration strategy within a cyclic voltammetric experiment, it is possible to acquire neutron reflectivity data associated with narrow, defined windows of potential. Accumulation of data from repetitive cycles allows one to build up potential- (time-) resolved profiles. The effective time resolution is now on the order of seconds, as compared to ca. 1 h using conventional methodology, making in situ NR a practical technique for dynamic electrochemical studies. Illustrative data for polyvinylferrocene films reveal hysteresis in (de)swelling, incomplete desolvation upon reduction, and transient salt retention, all of which respond to time-scale variations.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.