Electrocatalytic activity of poly(3-methylthiophene) electrodes

Poly 3-methylthiophene (P3MT) modified electrodes have shown an improvement for detecting catecholamines when compared to classical ones. Past work with this polymer electrode suggested the possible presence of “active sites,” which are believed to be the polymer’s center of electrocatalytic activity. The interaction of 1,5-anthroquinone-disolfonic acid (1,5-AQDS) at the P3MT electrode showed a nonreversible behavior resulting in the blocking of “the active sites,” suggesting the specific electcatalytical activity of this polymer is limited to catechol and similar compounds. In order to improve catecholamine detection, two methods of electropolymerization for P3MT were compared under similar conditions; (1) a constant potential for a specific length of time, and (2) potential cycling. It was found that cycling provided a more sensitive CV, i.e. increased number of active sites. Under a controlled pH study (pH range 2–9), the polymer electrode maintained its superior performance, manifested as lower ΔE and higher i, toward catechol over the traditional electrodes. Two different supporting electrolytes were used, sulfate and phosphate, and it was found that in neutral or basic solutions containing phosphate, the oxidation and reduction potentials of catechol shifted to lower values. Solutions containing sulfate exhibited no shift in the oxidation potential at any pH value.