ELECTROCATALYTIC BEHAVIOR OF A POLY(N-METHYLANILINE) FILMED ELECTRODE TO HYDROQUINONE

Poly(N-methylaniline) (PNMA) was prepared on a bare platinum electrode by electrooxidation of N-methylaniline in 1.0 mol dm(-3) HCl. The PNMA film was more stable to anodic treatment than the polyaniline film. The electric conductivity of the PNMA film was potential dependent. High conductivity appeared only within the potential region where PNMA itself was redox-active. The PNMA filmed electrode showed redox response to dissolved hydroquinone whose redox current was evident within the potential region. Furthermore, the PNMA film behaved as an electrocatalyst for the electrode reaction of hydroquinone. The kinetics of the electrocatalytic reaction were investigated mainly using a rotating disc electrode. The experimental results obtained were analysed by the theory of Albery and Hillman, and the rate constant of the electron cross-exchange transfer between hydroquinone and the redox-active sites in the film (k) was determined and found to be 6.4 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) at 20 degrees C.