Redox active thin films of polymeric metal-free octacyanophthalocyanine

Octacyanophthalocyanine is found to undergo oxidative polymerization under electrochemical conditions at 1.6 V. The polymer was characterized by infrared and UV-Vis spectra. The polymer-coated electrode undergoes a reversible electrochemical process when cycled in various electrolytes. The coated film acts as an ion exchange membrane specific to cations. This was proved by electrochemically trapping Fe(Phen)32+ ions and monitoring the cyclic voltammetric response of the incorporated cations.