Electrochemical behavior of surfactants containing an anthraquinone group and their application to the formation of organic thin films

The cyclic voltammetric behavior and electrochemical formation of organic thin films were studied for surfactants containing an anthraquinone group (1). The CV of 1 and plot of formal potential vs. pH indicate that the reduction product of 1 is determined to be 1(2-)bove pH 12.9), H1(-)between 10.9 and 12.9) or H(2)1(-) (pH below 10.9). The difference in the diffusion coefficient between 1 and 1(2-) suggests that 1(2-) molecules exist in the monomeric form, and the micelles of 1 may be broken up into monomers by reduction. The feasibility of such reversible control of the formation-disruption of micelles is also demonstrated by the spectroscopic observation of a dye solubilized or released according to the micelles that are framed or broken up. A transparent blue film of beta-type copper phthalocyanine (CuPC) is formed by controlled-potential electrolysis of a stirred aqueous dispersion containing 1 and CuPc at pH 13.