The voltammetric behaviour of solid 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) microparticles

The electrochemical behaviour of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) microparticles, attached to a graphite electrode and adjacent to an aqueous electrolyte solution, has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. DPPH exhibits one reversible redox couple with a formal potential of 0.340 V versus Ag|AgCl (pH=7.0). At more positive potentials, a redox couple appears with a formal potential E_f=0.733 V versus Ag|AgCl. The oxidation at this potential is followed by an irreversible chemical reaction generating a product which gives a redox couple with a formal potential at 0.177 V versus Ag|AgCl. The reduction process of this couple is followed by a slow chemical reaction in the course of which DPPH is reformed.