Electrochemistry and charge transport in sporopollenin particle arrays

Electrochemical oxidation of hollow sporopollenin particles immobilised on an electrode surface is investigated in aqueous acidic solution. Redox activity is demonstrated to occur via a mixture of 2e−–2H+ and 2e−–1H+ processes, likely due to the oxidation of conjugated phenolics embedded within the surface-shell of the polymer particles. Charge transport over the surface is suggested to be fast based on comparison with an approximate physicochemical model.