Electrochemical Deposition and Spectroelectrochemical Response of Bromophenol Blue Films on Gold.

Bromophenol blue (BPB) was electropolymerized onto a Au substrate. The effects of voltammetric cycle number, BPB concentration, and pH on film thickness, density, optical absorption, and electrochemical susceptibility were evaluated, and favorable deposition conditions were identified. Quantitative measurement of the film mass via quartz crystal microbalance enabled determination of the molar volume and revealed a strong dependence of film density with deposition pH. Finally, electrochemical control of the optical properties of BPB films was demonstrated via in situ spectroelectrochemistry. We believe this is the first demonstration of electropolymerization of pure BPB on Au, and thus the first demonstration of poly(BPB) as an electrochemically switchable optical coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]