Electropolymerization of chlorinated phenols on a Pt electrode in alkaline solution. Part II: An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study

Electropolymerization of phenol and mono-, di-, tri-, pentachlorophenols was studied using EQCM on a Pt electrode at 0.78 V (SHE) in 1 M NaOH solution containing 0.1 M of the corresponding phenol. The highest electropolymerization rate was found for ortho-substituted chlorophenols indicating a weak fouling of the electrode. Low electropolymerization rates for para-substituted chlorophenols suggest a low permeability of the polymer film, resulting in rapid electrode fouling. The EQCM data suggest that electropolymerization of chlorophenols occurs without Cl-elimination for the monomers with unsubstituted ortho and para positions. Dechlorination is most pronounced for electropolymerization of para-substituted isomers. The mechanism of electropolymerization of chlorophenols is discussed.