423 J. Electroanal. Chem., 266 (1989) 423-435 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQP Ellipsometric studies of ferrocene-containing copolymer films Part zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA 1. Data analysis strategy for deposition and voltammetric characterisation experiments A. Robert Hillman and David A. Taylor * School of Chemistry, Uniuersity of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, BS8 ITS (Great Britain) Andrew Hamnett and Simon J. Higgins Inorga~ie Chemistry Laboratory, Unj~ersi~~ of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford 0x1’ 3QR (Great Britain) (Received 7 November 1988; in revised form 3 March 1989) ABSTRACT Ellipsometry has been used to study the deposition and properties of 35 : 65 poly(vinylferrocene-co- vinylpyrrolidone). Deposition on Pt was carried out by electrochemical oxidation of neutral polymer in CH ,Cl z solution. Comparison of coulometric and ellipsometric data shows that, initially, all the oxidised ferrocene becomes surface immobilised. Subsequently, only a small (decreasing) fraction of the material oxidised becomes attached to the surface. Voltammetric experiments were carried out after transfer of the oxidised films to aqueous medium. A linear variation of the product kL (where k is the complex component of the film refractive index, and L is the film thickness) with charge was found. From this relationship, optical constants for the fully oxidised and fully reduced films were obtained. The parameters obtained differ from those for monomeric species in solution as a result of incorporation in the surface attached polymer film. INTRODUCTION We report here preliminary data for a vinylferrocene copolymer with vinylpyr- rolidone: this is one of a series of copolymers we have been studying with the aim of systematically varying solvation characteristics. The object of this paper is to outline the type of strategy we have employed in the treatment of el~psomet~c data for ferrocene systems and to demonstrate its application to one of the copolymers we l Present address: E.C.C. International, John Keay House, St. Austell, Cornwail, Great Britain. ~22-0728/89/$03.50 Q 1989 Elsevier Sequoia S.A.