Poly electrolysis, controlled potential

Figure 8.5. Absorption spectrum of (a) Zn(II)-8 monomer (1 jiM) in DCM solution, (b) poly[Zn(II)-8] film on transparent ITO electrode (A = 0.8 cm ) prepared by 55 elec-tropolymerizing scans and (c) poly[Zn(II)-8] on transparent ITO electrode (A = 0.8 cm ) prepared by controlled-potential electrolysis at 1.7 V for 1 hr. Reprinted from ref.[62]. Copyright (1991), with permission from Elsevier.

One of the first electrochemical examples of switching between unimers of a binary, bis-hydrophilic polymer and its micellar structures was given recently by the author [235]. Here, miktoarm stars of PEO and cationic poly(methacryloylox-yethyltrimethylammonium chloride) (PMOTAC) were complexed with anionic hexacyanoferrates, which induced vesicle formation at a certain ratio of ferro-and ferricyanide. Because the ratio of the two ions can be controlled electrochem-ically, vesicle formation was induced at high equilibrium potentials, whereas unimers were present at low equilibrium potential even after several electrolysis cycles (Fig. 27). 

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