Electrochimica Acta, Vol.48, No.5, 507-512, 2003
Electrochemical polymerization and characterization of a functional dicarbazole conducting polymer
The electropolymerization of the unique dicarbazole monomer, 2,6-bis-carbazole-9-yl-hexanoic acid pentafluorophenyl ester, is reported. This chiral monomer possesses two carbazole units and a chiral grafting center, activated ester for covalent amine-coupling. Contrary to monocarbazole monomers unable of internal cross-linking, its specifically designed dicarbazole skeleton allowed us to obtain highly reticulated polydicarbazole films functionalized for probe coupling. Full analysis of its electrochemical polymerization revealed different oxidation potentials for the two structurally different carbazole units. The electrochemical activity of the polydicarbazole-coated electrode has been characterized in different redox electrolytes. Contacted by a model protein (BSA), this film has been easily passivated at the Rubpy(3)(PF6) electrochemical window.
Keywords:polydicarbazole;cyclic voltammetry;pinhole-free film;covalent linkage of proteins;electrosensor