Electrochemical polymerization of 1,2-ethanedithiol as a new way to synthesize polyethylenedisulfide

Preliminary studies of the electrochemical oxidation of 1,2-ethanedithiol in acetonitrile at platinum electrode surfaces are presented. A permanent modification of the electrode surfaces was observed after the anodic oxidation of 1,2-ethanedithiol. This modification is due to the formation of an organic polymer coating strongly tied to the electrode surfaces. This electrochemical polymerization process was studied by coupling electrochemistry and in situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance experiments, while ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the structure of the polymer film. These spectroscopic techniques allowed us to identify the polymer films obtained by oxidation of 1,2-ethanedithiol as polyethylenedisulfide films.