Electrochemical response mechanism of polymeric ferrocenyl amphiphiles and their application in the electrochemical controlled release of Rhodamine 6G

In order to improve and promote the separation and purification technology of organic pollutants, a novel electrochemical reversible response system was designed. In this system, two polymeric ferrocenyl amphiphiles, 4-(11-ferrocenyl undecyloxy) benzoic acid methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) ester (abbreviated as PEG-Ph-Fc) and 11-ferrocenyl undecyloxy poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (abbreviated as PEG-Fc), were chosen as carriers, and Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was used as an organic pollutants model molecule. The polymeric micelles formed by PEG-Ph-Fc and PEG-Fc can compatibilize R6G in NaCl aqueous solution. Polymeric micelles can be reversibly formed and dissociated by electrochemical response. So, electrochemical-controlled release of R6G from polymeric micelles can be achieved. The release rate of R6G could be adjusted by changing electrochemical redox potentials. This phenomenon should be caused by the different electrochemical oxidative rates for PEG-Fc and PEG-Ph-Fc upon same oxidative potentials. This work offers tremendous possibilities for the improving the separation and purification ability of organic pollutants.