Electrochemical oxidation of dibenzocarbazole followed by laser interferometry: formation of a new conducting film

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of dibenzocarbazole was carried out galvanostatically at a graphite electrode in acetonitrile containing 0.1 mol dm^–3 tetrabutylammonium perchlorate in a laser interferometric microcell at current densities of 0.23, 0.34 and 0.59mA cm^–2. Fringe shifts were produced immediately at both electrodes. At the anode, dibenzocarbazole is oxidized to produce an insoluble film. The formation of the film does not inhibit further oxidation of dibenzocarbazole. Cyclic voltammetric studies of dibenzocarbazole show an anodic peak at E_pa= 1.30 V vs. Ag with a complementary peak at 0.37V. Repetitive sweeping between 0 and 2V produces a dark coloured film and this film exhibits interesting apparent electrocatalysis for the oxidation of 9,10-diphenylanthracene (DPA).