ELECTROCHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF ELECTROSTATIC ATTRACTION OF CATIONS AND THE EJECTION OF ANIONS BY POLYANIONIC ELECTRODE COATINGS STABLE IN NONAQUEOUS SOLVENTS

The polyanionic block copolymer of Eastman Kodak, AQ 55, was examined for its ability to incorporate and retain electroactive counterions in both aqueous and non-aqueous (acetonitrile) solutions. The coatings e xhibited substantial cation permselectivity: chloride anions were prev ented from reaching the underlying electrode to be oxidized but could be oxidized via electron-transfer to Ru(phen)(3)(3+) (phen = 9,10-phen anthroline) cations generated from Ru(phen)(3)(2+) counterions incorpo rated in the coating of AQ 55. Ru(pdon)(3)(2+) (pdon = 9,10-phenanthro line-5,6-dione) counterions incorporated in coatings of AQ 55 and redu ced in acetonitrile to anionic complexes are lost from the coatings mu ch more rapidly than is the original cationic complex. (C) 1998 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.