The imprint of electropolymerized polyphenol films on electrodes by donor-acceptor interactions: Selective electrochemical sensing of N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (methyl viologen)

Polyphenol is electropolymerized on a Au electrode in the presence of N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′bipyridinium, methyl viologen. MV²⁺, to yield an imprinted film for MV²⁺, The association and dissociation of MV²⁺ to and from the imprinted sites is studied by electrochemical means and compared to the interactions of MV²⁺ with the non-imprinted polymer. Donor-acceptor interactions provide the driving force for the formation of the imprinted sites. The imprinted polymer reveals selectivity toward the association of MV²⁺, and the polymer-bound MV ²⁺ enables vectorial electron transfer between the electrode and redox label dissolved in the bulk electrolyte solution.