Synthesis and in situ FTIRS characterization of conducting polymers obtained from aminobenzoic acid isomers at platinum electrodes

The electrochemical homo-polymerization of o-, m- and p-aminobenzoic acids has been performed on Pt electrodes in perchloric acid aqueous medium by cyclic scanning of the potential. Different limit potentials were employed to obtain thin polymeric films. When the switching potential was extended beyond the respective monomer oxidation peak, a rather degraded material was obtained. In situ FTIR spectroscopy has been used to characterize the redox response of films synthesized at the lower potential limits. Characteristic absorption features related with benzenoid and quinoid rings and different types of C–N bonds suggest the presence of redox processes similar to those undergone by the parent compound polyaniline. In addition, the existence of a chemical interaction between –COOH and –NH– groups in the reduced state of the three homopolymers studied can be suggested. Carbon dioxide has been detected at potentials higher than 1.0 V (RHE) irrespective of the polymeric material, thus indicating its degradation.