Formation and redox behaviour of polycarbazole prepared by electropolymerization of solid carbazole crystals immobilized on an electrode surface

Carbazole solid crystals have been mechanically attached to platinum or gold electrodes by two different methods and investigated by cyclic electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements in the presence of aqueous acidic media. It was demonstrated that oxidative dimerization and polymerization can also be accomplished under such conditions. During electropolymerization, anions and water molecules enter the surface layer; however, these species leave the film after the reduction of the polymer formed. The mass changes observed in the course of the redox transformations of polycarbazole film can be explained by potential- and time-dependent sorption/desorption of H+ and ClO4- ions. The electroactivity of the polymer diminishes in more dilute acid media; however, it is recovered again in concentrated HClO4 solutions. In more dilute acid solution the extent of the water sorption (film swelling) increases.