Synthesis, electrochemistry, absorption and electro-polymerization of aniline-ethynyl metalloporphyrins

Abstract

Free-base, nickel(II), zinc(II) and iron(III) mono(4-aniline-ethynyl)biphenylporphines (AEBPPs) were synthesized and their electro-polymerization reactions were studied. Electrochemical and UV-Visible experiments showed that AEBPPs were electro-polymerized onto Pt and indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces without significantly changing their redox and spectral properties. This suggests that the π-conjugations of these porphyrins were not greatly affected upon electro-polymerization. SEM images indicated the formation of porphyrin films on the electrode surfaces, while EDS spectra of the metallo-AEBPP films confirmed deposits of the corresponding metals. Upon closer inspection, the AFM images revealed nano-scale fine structure of these porphyrin films. Both SEM and AFM images of the porphyrin films showed similar trends of porphyrin accumulation.