Electrochemical properties of an amphiphilic viologen in differently charged micelles

The electrochemical properties of N-tetradecyl-N′-methylviologen (TMV) in differently charged micelles were studied with a glassy carbon electrode using electrochemical techniques. The redox potential varied depending on the charge of the surrounding surfactants. When the viologen was situated in cationic micelles the redox potential for the 2+/1+ reaction was more positive than when situated in negatively charged micelles. The non-ionic micelles destabilised the 2+-state most showing the highest redox potentials. From studies of several different cationic micelles it was concluded that the most important parameter for the redox potential was the surface charge density. A calculation based on a simple model confirmed this. Other interactions also influenced the stability of the redox states. Adsorption, desorption and reorganisation of the surfactants at the electrode surface caused capacitive currents. To control the nonfaradaic current, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used in addition to cyclic voltammetry.