Scan rate and concentration dependence of the voltammograms of substituted phenols on electrodes with different size, diffusion coefficients of phenols in different solvents

In this work, the effects of the scan rate and the concentration of the substituted phenols on the peak currents or current plateaus have been investigated. Voltammetric curves recorded by a platinum microelectrode varied significantly under differ-ent experimental conditions in cases of 4-chlorophenol, 4-tert-butylphenol, and 4-nitrophenol. In the case of 4-methoxyphenol and 4-tert-butylphenol, when the experiments were performed in the lower concentration range in acetonitrile, the plateau current and peak current showed linear dependence on phenol concentration. Therefore, these ranges offer opportunity for further characterization. The electrode reaction of 4-methoxyphenol was found to be a diffusion-controlled process in the solvents applied (water, acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, nitrobenzene, acetone, dichloromethane, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, and 1-pentanol). Diffusion coefficients of 4-methoxyphenol were determined with a microelectrode using the steady-state voltammograms. Diffusion coefficients of other phenols were measured only in ace-tonitrile with a macroelectrode. In agreement with known theories, the diffusion coefficients showed inversely proportional relationships with the solvent viscosities. Special care was needed in 1-pentanol solvent since the increasing anodic peaks ap-peared after the first scan and overlaid with the sigmoidal-shaped regular microelectrode voltammograms. This observation is probably due to formation of adhering residual electroactive products.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of scan rate and the concentration of substituted phenols on peak currents or current plateaus. The voltammetric curves recorded by a platinum microelectrode show significant variations under different experimental conditions for 4-chlorophenol, 4-tert-butylphenol, and 4-nitrophenol. Linear dependence between plateau current / peak current and phenol concentration is observed for 4-methoxyphenol and 4-tert-butylphenol in the lower concentration range in acetonitrile. Diffusion-controlled processes are found in the electrode reaction of 4-methoxyphenol in various solvents. The diffusion coefficients show an inverse proportional relationship with solvent viscosities, in agreement with known theories.