Quinonoid modified electrodes amplify the current from certain soluble one-electron redox reagents

Chemically modified carbon electrodes are prepared which hold polymeric layers of anthraquinone or dopamine units on the surface. In each case only those quinonoid units nearest the carbon are electroactive in neutral solution. Other units can be activated by one-electron redox shuttles dissolved in the solution phase which help propagate the redox process through the film. Cobalticinium dicarboxylic acid and methyl viologen are used to catalyze reductive reactions and ferrocene carboxylic acid catalyzes the oxidative propagation.