Facile cation electro-insertion into layer-by-layer assembled iron phytate films

Molecular layer-by-layer assembly from pre-saturated aqueous solutions of Fe³⁺ and phytate is employed to build up iron phytate deposits on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) electrodes. Globular films with approximately 1 nm growth per layer are observed by AFM imaging and sectioning. In electrochemical experiments the iron phytate films show well-defined voltammetric responses consistent with an immobilised Fe(III/II) redox system in aqueous (LiClO₄, NaClO₄, KClO₄, phosphate buffer) and in ethanolic (LiClO₄, NaClO₄, NBu₄ClO₄) electrolyte solutions. The Fe(III/II) redox system is reversible and cation insertion/expulsion occurs fast on the timescale of voltammetric experiments even for more bulky NBu₄⁺ cations and in ethanolic solution. Peak shape analysis and scan rate dependent midpoint potentials suggest structural changes accompanying the redox process and limiting propagation. Iron phytate is proposed as a versatile and essentially colourless cation electro-insertion material and as a potential energy storage material.