Electrochemical Behavior of Donor-Tetracyanoquinodimethane Electrodes in Aqueous Media

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00537a001

Electrodes prepared as compacted pellets from conductive donor-acceptor complexes of tetraquinodimethane (TCNQ) with several donors (D) (tetrathiotetracene, acridine, quinoline, N-methylphenazine, 2,2'- and 4,4'-bipyridine) were investigated in aqueous solutions.The results were compared to those of a previous investigation of TTF-TCNQ pellets (TTF = tetrathiafulvalene) and to results on single crystals of TTF-TCNQ reported here.The electrodes are stable over a potential region in which they could be employed as inert electrodes.The potential limits depended upon the stabilization gained upon complexation and the relative electrode potentials of the constituent compounds.Upon exceeding the potential limits of stability of the electrode, the electrode was reduced or oxidized.Subsequent voltammograms showed peaks attributable to insoluble compounds formed on the electrode surface.The potentials observed for the redox processes could be correlated to the degree of charge transfer, ρ, as well as gas-transfer ionization potentials and electron affinities.