Synthesis of some azacrown derivatives and fabrication of their nanofilms on the glassy carbon surface

The modification of N-phenyl-aza-15-crown-5 (PA15C5) and N-(4-aminophenyl)-aza-15-crown-5 (4APA15C5) on glassy carbon (GC) electrode was performed by the electrochemical oxidation of the corresponding azacrown derivatives in anhydrous acetonitrile media. The electrochemical behavior of the resulting modified GC electrode was investigated in the presence of electroactive redox probes and these results, together with the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy were used to confirm the attachment of these molecules onto the GC surface. The ellipsometric thicknesses of PA15C5 and 4APA15C5 films at the GC surface was obtained around 9.28 ± 0.40 and 10.50 ± 1.10 nm, respectively. Azacrown modified nanoscale surfaces serve as alkali metal sensor specific for their cavity in the crown ring.