A novel self-assembled monolayer for enhanced growth of poly-N-phenylpyrrole

A novel electrode modification scheme is presented which facilitates the en hanced nucleation and growth of the electrically conducting polymer poly-N- phenylpyrrole. The terminal amino groups of gold working electrodes modifie d with 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) are converted to pyrroles in a simple, one -step reaction. This conversion was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, with t he oxidation potential of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) shifting from 0.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl for the 4-ATP modified electrode to similar to 0.90 V fo r the pyrrole terminated monolayer. Thus modified, the electrodes were used for the subsequent electrochemical growth of poly-N-phenylpyrrole. Compari son of polymer films formed on the modified vs. unmodified electrode surfac e by cyclic voltammetry reveals a marked difference in the growth character istics of the films, particularly in the nucleation step. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.