Electrosynthesized, non-conducting films of poly(2-naphthol): electrochemical and XPS investigations.

Advanced biosensors are frequently based on electrosynthesized polymeric films. In this context, the electrosynthesis mechanism underlying the electrochemical oxidation of 2-naphthol (2-NAP) in phosphate buffer at pH 7 on Pt electrodes has been investigated. The voltammetric behaviour suggested the formation of a non-conducting polymer (poly(2-NAP)) through an irreversible electrochemical process complicated by 2-NAP adsorption and fast electrode passivation.