XPS STRUCTURE ELUCIDATION OF POLYMER FILM COATINGS OBTAINED BY ELECTROPOLYMERIZING NAPHTHOL DERIVATIVES

1-Naphthol, 2-naphthol, 2-methyl-1-naphthol, 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-l,4-naphthoquinone were Aldrich products. Films were electropolymerized onto Pt electrodes in a 0. 3 M NaOH plus MeOH solution degassed with argon. Film thickness ranged from 30 to 300 nm, as estimated from interferometric measurements. With the use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, approximate formulae of the products (calculated from peak intensities with experimental sensitivity coefficients derived from the study of a series of organic compounds) were in good agreement with the expected formulae. The electrochemical polymerization of the naphthol derivatives yields two distinguishable series of polymer films: poly(naphthalene oxide) and poly(naphthoquinone). The ionic and radical mechanisms of the polymerization are discussed.