Surface activity and redox behavior of a non-ionic surfactant containing a phenothiazine group

A novel non-ionic surfactant, alpha-(phenothiazinylhexyl)-omega-hydroxy-oligo(ethylene oxide) (PCPEG) containing phenothiazine as an electroactive group has been synthesized. Fundamental interfacial behavior of the surfactant at the air/water interface has been investigated by means of surface tensiometry to provide an insight into the relationship between the structure of the hydrophobic moiety and the surfactant properties. A comparison of diffusivity of PCPEG in the aqueous phase with that in the acetonitrile solution at high PCPEG concentrations shows that micellization has a pronounced effect on the redox behavior of PCPEG. The electrochemical responses for PCPEG aqueous solutions at the interface of a glassy carbon electrode are fairly dependent on the concentration of PCPEG. Above CMC, PCPEG molecules self-associate to form micellar aggregates and the formation and disruption of micelles can be reversibly controlled by change in the redox state of the phenothiazine group. The cyclic voltammetric responses for PCPEG aqueous solutions have been correlated with the dissolved states to explain the distinctive feature of the surfactant. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.