Spectroelectrochemical study of the influence of anions on the behaviour of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) films

Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) films were prepared by potentiostatic deposit ion onto indium tin oxide-coated glass (ITO) electrodes from acetonitrile s olutions containing the monomer. Two different supporting electrolyte solut ions, LiClO4 and LiBF4, were used. The electrochemical behaviour of the pol ymer-coated electrodes was studied in solutions containing successively, bo th electrolytes, by means of in situ W-vis spectrophotometry. The experimen tal results obtained in both electrolytes at the same analytical concentrat ion could not be interpreted completely by considering only the influence o f the size of the electrolyte anion. Spectroelectrochemical measurements pe rformed in electrolyte solutions of the same conductivity have shown the im portance of the specific interactions which may exist between the anions an d the oxidised polymer sites. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights res erved.