Electrochemical polymerization of neutral red in the presence of sulfoferrocenecarboxylic acid

Syntheses, properties and applications of polyaniline and its derivatives have been studied extensively. Recent papers have shown that their micro-structures can be prepared using chemical, electrochemical and physical methods. Here, we describe oxidative polymerization of neutral red, an aniline derivative, carried out in aqueous sulfuric acid solution containing sulfoferrocenecarboxylic acid using repeated potential cycling. The polymer film was electrochemically deposited on a platinum anode and had an electrochemical activity in the solution of 0.5 mol dm−3 Na2SO4 with pH ≤ 7.0. Based on the spectroscopic measurements, a possible chemical structure of the corresponding polymer was proposed. The scanning electron microscopy micrograph proved that the micro-structure of the resulting polymer, which portrayed geological features similar to Earth and Titan, can be prepared using the electrochemical method.