Optical probes of ion transport in electrochemical processes based on in situ derivatization; application to polypyrrole and polythiophene thin films

Abstract

Dopant ion fluxes during the electrochemical reduction of polypyrrole perchlorate and polythiophene tetrafluoroborate thin films were measured at parts per billion sensitivity, and the polymer doping levels assayed via derivatization with 2,6-di-p-tolyl-4-phenylpyrylium reagent followed by extraction of the ion pair complex into chlorobenzene, and its detection by spectrofluorimetry.

Light in an Electrochemical Tunnel

“…These species can be either chosen for spectroscopic properties that make them amenable to tagging or derivatized in situ with a dye or a luminophore (11)(12)(13) to generate optically responsive probes. By moving the analysis zone from the solid layer to the bulk solution, we obviate many of the analytical difficulties with the solid layer.…”