DEVICE WITH pi-CONJUGATED METAL COMPLEX IMMOBILIZED SUBSTRATE IN AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE

• US 20090026071A1
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kubo, Wataru
• Granted Patent: US 7,964,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/291
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/004 mediator-assisted

Abstract

A π-conjugated metal complex immobilized substrate, in which π-conjugated metal complex molecules are connected to a substrate via a π-conjugated molecular structure, is adapted for observing an electron transfer (redox reaction) of the π-conjugated metal complex molecules in aqueous electrolytes. An electrochemical device including this π-conjugated metal complex immobilized substrate and an aqueous electrolyte with cations having an ion radius of r (m) that is not less than a radius of a sphere inscribed in a clearance formed between the π-conjugated metal complex molecules. The device utilizes an electron transfer (redox reaction) of the π-conjugated metal complex molecules in the aqueous electrolyte.

Claims

1. An electrochemical device comprising:

a π

-conjugated metal complex immobilized substrate in which π

-conjugated metal complex molecules are immobilized on a conductive substrate directly or via a π

-conjugated molecular structure; and

an aqueous electrolyte comprising cations with an ion radius that is not smaller than a radius of a sphere inscribed in a clearance between the π

-conjugated metal complex molecules,

wherein the device utilizes a redox reaction of the π

-conjugated metal complex molecules in the aqueous electrolyte.

2. The electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein the radius of the sphere inscribed in the clearance formed between the π

-conjugated metal complex molecules is represented by Equation (1);

3. The electrochemical device according to claim 1, wherein a cation having the ion radius r is derived from an organic compound.