Electron Transfer Process Through Ethylhexadecylviologen of the Oriented Thin Layer

Abstract

The electrochemical characteristics of an electrode coated with oriented ethylhexadecylviologen, having redox sites of hydrophilic group were analyzed. Ethylhexadecylviologen was fixed stably on the electrodes by dimerization. The dimerization was depressed when the other detergent, octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride was added to disperse ethylhexadecylviologen (Fig.1). Electron transfer process at eectrode-solution interface was depressed by the coating of electroinactive detergent, e. g. oleic acid. Reduction half-wave potential of oxygen molecule of rotating disk voltammetry was shifted from -450mV to -530mV (vs. SCE due to this supression). On the other hand, the reduction half-wave potential of oxygen molecule was shifted to anodic side by 90mV when ethylhexadecylviologen was coated electrolytically on the electrode (Fig.5). It was clarified that the electrode coated with ethylhexadecylviologen as super thin layer showed catalytic activity f or the reduction of oxygen molecule.