FORMATION OF A BILAYER BY ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION OF 1,3-DIMETHOXYBENZENE

A new polymeric material was obtained by the electrochemical oxidation of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene (MDMB) in dry acetonitrile on platinum electr odes. A shiny, golden polymeric deposit that is insoluble in most comm on solvents was observed on the platinum surface. The polymerization p rocess obeys a multistep, self-catalytic type of mechanism, following an instantaneous nucleation and bidimensional growing process during t he initial stage of the film formation. The scanning electronic micros copy (SEM) shows the existence of two different layers during electrod eposition: a smooth, compact, thin layer with an average thickness of 50 nm, followed by a porous, thick, stable, and less adherent layer. E lectrodes modified with poly-1,3-dimethoxybenzene were found to be con ductive in solutions, and oxygen evolution signal could be observed in some electrolytic media.