Chemically modified electrodes. Radiofrequency plasma polymerization of vinylferrocene on glassy carbon and platinum electrodes

Vinylferrocene can be polymerized in a radiofrequency Ar plasma to deposit in thin, adherent films on qlassy carbon and Pt electrodes. In acetonitrile solvent containinig tetraethylammonium perchlorate or tetrafluoroborate electrolyte, these films exhibit electrochemical reactivity qualitatively expectable for polyvinylferrocene films although analytical information on film composition shows some plasma damage and some oxygen incorporation has taken place. The relationship of observed electrochemistry to plasma reaction time and geometry is described, Quantities of electroactive ferrocene in the prepared films ranqe from 0.5 - 300 x 10-10 mole/cm.2 . The thinner films exhibit non-limiting transport of electrochemical charge, while a thick film gives a diffusion controlled response