Raman spectroelectrochemical study of Toluidine Blue, adsorbed and electropolymerized at a gold electrode

The redox dye Toluidine Blue (TB), adsorbed and electropolymerized at a roughened gold electrode, has been studied by Raman spectroscopy at λex of 676.4 nm in an electrochemical cell. Most of the spectral bands have been assigned based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The number and position of the bands, as well as their intensity depend on electrode potential and solution pH, allowing one to discern different redox forms of TB or its polymer. Raman spectra, obtained in an acidic solution (pH 1.0) at a low electrode potential (−0.2 to 0.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl) are of low intensity, and correspond to the reduced (leucoform) of TB. At a higher potential (0.2–1.0 V), the intensity increases significantly, presumably due to resonance enhancement, and new bands appear, corresponding to oxidized form of TB. In a pH-neutral solution, the changes in spectra with varying electrode potential are less expressed. The observed changes in band positions and intensities have been analyzed.