ELECTRODEPOSITION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(N-VINYLCARBAZOLE) FILMS ON PLATINUM-ELECTRODES

The influence of the electrodeposition regime on the morphology of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) films and on the electrochemical properties of Pt/PVCz electrodes was studied. The polymer films were obtained potentiostatically on stationary and rotating disc Pt electrodes. It was found that the use of rotating electrodes allowed kinetic control of the growth process, and the resulting films were compact and adhered well to the substrate. The rate constant of the polymerization reaction and the diffusion coefficient of N-vinylcarbazole were calculated. The switching reaction of the PVCz film is discussed and related to the morphology of the film and to the composition of the solution. The permeability of the PVCz films and the electric conductivity of the polymer were estimated using the ferrocene/ferricinium redox couple.