Copolymer Formation Between Two N‐Substituted Anilines—Electrochemical and Spectroelectrochemical Studies

Abstract

Abstract Electrochemical polymerization of diphenylamine, DPA with N‐methyl aniline, NMA was performed using cyclic voltammetry in a 4 M sulfuric acid medium. The electrochemical parameters representing the polymer deposition showed a strong dependence on the molar concentration ratios of DPA or NMA in the feed. In situ spectroelectrochemical studies were performed during the electropolymerization with different molar concentration feed ratios of DPA. The results reveal the formation of intermediates together with DPA and NMA units. Derivative cyclic voltabsorptograms (DCVAs) were deduced at the wavelength of absorbance corresponding to the intermediates and explained with redox characteristics in cyclic voltammogram. Results from cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical studies favor copolymer formation between DPA and NMA. Copolymers were prepared for different molar concentrations feed ratios of DPA and the composition of the monomer units in the copolymers were determined. Reactivity ratios of DPA and NMA were deduced using Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tudos methods and correlated with the results from cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical studies. Keywords: ElectrocopolymerizationCyclic voltammetryIn situ spectroelectrochemical studiesUV‐VIS spectroscopyCopolymerizationCopolymer compositionReactivity ratios Acknowledgment The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance from Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India (SP/S1‐H12/97).