Electropolymerization of Preadsorbed Layers of Some Azine Redox Dyes on Graphite

The redox-active azine dyes Nile blue A (NB) and Toluidine blue O (TB) were electropolymerized after preadsorption onto the surface of graphite electrodes by potential cycling, using an anodic scan limit of 0.9 or 1.0 V vs SCE, where irreversible electrooxidation of the dye proceeds, yielding polymerizable species. Electropolymerization of both dyes is followed by the progressive disappearance of the characteristic current peaks in the cyclic voltammograms, and formation of new ones, shifted by ca. 0.21 V to the positive direction. Also, a decrease and gradual disappearance of the characteristic luminescence at a maximum of 671 nm was observed during the electropolymerization of NB. The resulting electrodes, modified by electropolymerized derivatives of NB and TB, were shown to be able to catalyze the electrooxidation of the coenzyme NADH. Thus, the modified electrodes prepared can be used for amperometric detection of the reduced form of the coenzyme. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.