Polymer matrices, electron-transfer

The main challenge in the field of electrochemical sensors and devices is the use of the conductivity of the polymer matrix to address electronically the active centre. For example, a major issue lies in the devices based on the biotine--avidine interaction. Of course it is possible to operate with a monolayer, but this diminishes the efficiency of the sensor. However, if the material between the sensing part and the electrode is a conducting polymer, the electron transfer occurs usually more efficiently and allows to operate with multilayered systems, as it has been demonstrated by Cosnier et al. [362-364] (Scheme 18.10). 

The nature of the light emissions is influenced by the way in which the absorbed energy is transferred through the polymer matrix. In crystalline polymers, exciton migration is possible as all molecules lose their energetic individuality and all electronic and oscillation levels are coupled [20]. Thus, new exciton absorption and emission bands are formed and the excitation energy can move along the chain ... 

The cobalt(II)15 and zinc(II)16 complexes of phthalocyanine(Pc), octcyano-Pc, and tetrasulfon-ato-Pc incorporated in poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-styrene) or Nafion films coated on graphite have also been examined as catalytic devices for dihydrogen electrogeneration in phosphate buffer. These catalytic systems were strongly suggested to be dominated by the electron transfer within the polymer matrix. The best catalytic film is that constituted of the nonsubstituted Con-Pc complex in poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-styrene), giving a turnover number of 2 x 10s h-1 at an applied potential of —0.90 V vs. Ag Ag Cl. 

There is a wealth of literature on transport and kinetics in microhetero-geneous catalytic systems [175,176], the influence of particle size [177], and complicated situations in which both catalytic microparticles and electron-transfer mediators are dispersed in a polymer matrix [176-179]. The designs and uses of this type of flow-through sensors have been thoroughly reviewed [180,181]. 

Fig. 3. Chemistry of dichromated poly(vinyl alcohol) resist. Initially the dichromate ion absorbs light the light-activated Cr6+ species undergoes an electron-transfer reaction with the PVA matrix to form a polymer radical. These undergo further reactions to form Cr3+ and a cross-linked matrix (13).

The theory of electron transfer in chemical and biological systems has been discussed by Marcus and many other workers 74 84). Recently, Larson 8l) has discussed the theory of electron transfer in protein and polymer-metal complex structures on the basis of a model first proposed by Marcus. In biological systems, electrons are mediated between redox centers over large distances (1.5 to 3.0 nm). Under non-adiabatic conditions, as the two energy surfaces have little interaction (Fig. 5), the electron transfer reaction does not occur. If there is weak interaction between the two surfaces, a, and a2, the system tends to split into two continuous energy surfaces, A3 and A2, with a small gap A which corresponds to the electronic coupling matrix element. Under such conditions, electron transfer from reductant to oxidant may occur, with the probability (x) given by Eq. (10),... 

There are several reasons for the appeal of polymer modification immobilization is technically easier than working with monolayers the films are generally more stable and because of the multiple layers redox sites, the electrochemical responses are larger. Questions remain, however, as to how the electrochemical reaction of multimolecular layers of electroactive sites in a polymer matrix occur, e.g., mass transport and electron transfer processes by which the multilayers exchange electrons with the electrode and with reactive molecules in the contacting solution [9]. 

In the temperature interval of —70 to 0°C and in the low-frequency range, an unexpected dielectric relaxation process for polymers is detected. This process is observed clearly in the sample PPX with metal Cu nanoparticles. In sample PPX + Zn only traces of this process can be observed, and in the PPX + PbS as well as in pure PPX matrix the process completely vanishes. The amplitude of this process essentially decreases, when the frequency increases, and the maximum of dielectric losses have almost no temperature dependence [104]. This is a typical dielectric response for percolation behavior [105]. This process may relate to electron transfer between the metal nanoparticles through the polymer matrix. Data on electrical conductivity of metal containing PPX films (see above) show that at metal concentrations higher than 5 vol.% there is an essential probability for electron transfer from one particle to another and thus such particles become involved in the percolation process. The minor appearance of this peak in PPX + Zn can be explained by oxidation of Zn nanoparticles. 

We have already seen that photoactive clusters, e.g. CdS, can be introduced into vesicles and BLMs (Sect. 5.2 and 5.3). Similar support interactions are possible with both inorganic and organic polymeric supports. Photoactive colloidal semiconductor clusters can be introduced, for example, into cellulose [164], porous Vycor [165], zeolites [166], or ion exchange resins [167]. The polymer matrix can thus influence the efficiencies of photoinduced electron transfer by controlling access to the included photocatalyst or by limiting the size of the catalytic particle in parallel to the effects observed in polymerized vesicles. As in bilayer systems,... 

Perhaps the original hope for these polymers was that they would act simultaneously as immobilisation matrix and mediator, facilitating electron transfer between the enzyme and electrode and eliminating the need for either O2 or an additional redox mediator. This did not appear to be the case for polypyrrole, and in fact while a copolymer of pyrrole and a ferrocene modified pyrrole did achieve the mediation (43), the response suggested that far from enhancing the charge transport, the polypyrrole acted as an inert diffusion barrier. Since these early reports, other mediator doped polypyrroles have been reported (44t45) and curiosity about the actual role of polypyrrole or any other electrochemically deposited polymer, has lead to many studies more concerned with the kinetics of the enzyme linked reactions and the film transport properties, than with the achievement of a real biosensor. 

---