Scanning tunnelling microscopy study of osmium-containing electroactive metallopolymer [Os(bipy)2(PVP)10Cl]Cl films on polycrystalline graphite electrodes

Abstract

Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) has been applied to the study, in air, of the topography of Os(bipy)₂Cl₂-loaded poly(4-vinylpyridine)(PVP)(bipy = 2,2′-bipyridyl) films supported on polycrystalline graphite. Two markedly different topographical features are observed on the sample surfaces before and after electrochemical cycling in aqueous sulphuric acid electrolytes. These features are characterized, respectively, by ordered domains with rows of fibrillar structure and ordered domains with rows of granular structure. Electrochemical cycling in the sulphuric acid electrolyte therefore clearly has a profound effect on the topographies of the electroactive polymer films.