Surface electrochemistry and electrocatalytic activity of ion pairs formed from oppositely-charged phthalocyanine and porphyrin species

Abstract

Self-assembled ion pairs are deposited onto a graphite electrode surface by dipping the electrode sequentially into phthalocyanine cations and anions, or a phthalocyanine cation and porphyrin anion. The electrochemical properties of these surface-bound ion pairs are compared with the properties of the individual surface-bound components. The order of deposition is shown to be crucial, implying that these species lie flat on the surface. A detailed study of the electrocatalytic oxidation of oxalate anion is used to explore their reactivity as a function of deposition order.