ELECTROCHEMICALLY MEDIATED POLYMERIZATION OF 2-PENTADECYLANILINE CONFINED TO A PLANAR LIQUID-LIQUID INTERFACE

Spreading, isotherms and polymerization of 2-pentadecylaniline at a pl anar aqueous electrolyte-organic interface were examined by monitoring the interfacial pressure employing the Wilhelmy-plate method. These r esults indicate the presence of monomer confined to the interface. App lication of a voltage across the interface using stainless steel elect rodes results in polymerization to form an electroactive polymer. The interfacial polymerization appears to be effected by metal ions formed by oxidation of the anode that have diffused into the aqueous electro lyte. This phenomenon is dependent on the nature of the electrode mate rial as successful polymerization was not observed with other electrod e materials. The polymer formed was soluble in polar organic liquids, was green in its reduced state and blue in its oxidized state, when ox idized and reduced chemically or electrochemically as a thin film. Cyc lic voltammetry of the polymer indicates one reversible redox process suggesting that there are only two different oxidation states availabl e, i. e., the equivalent to leucoemeraldine cannot be formed with poly (2-pentadecylaniline) in a thin film. However, the fully reduced yello w leucoemeraldine can be formed in chloroform solution by hydrazine re duction.