Electrodeposition of Metal Particles and Films by a Reducing Redox Polymer

Abstract
The electrodeposition of copper, silver, cobalt, and nickel onto Pt electrodes is described. The Ru(I) and Ru(0) states of the polymer are used to mediate the metal reductions. Metal deposited directly onto the underlying Pt electrode and that deposited on the polymer can be distinguished from the cyclic voltammetry; experimental conditions promoting the latter were established. SEM and XPS confirm that metal can be deposited mainly on the outer polymer surface. The kinetics of nucleation of metal particles on the polymer were detectable. Rotated disk permeation measurements show that the deposited metal films impede the diffusion of probe molecules like ferrocene through the polymer film. The electrodeposition of copper could also be mediated by a dissolved viologen mediator which permeates the polymer film.