Electrochromism of Methylviologen (Paraquat)

N. Aristov¹ and A. Habekost^1,

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Education, Reuteallee 46, D-71634 Ludwigsburg, Germany

Cite this paper

N. Aristov and A. Habekost. Electrochromism of Methylviologen (Paraquat). World Journal of Chemical Education. 2015; 3(4):82-86. doi: 10.12691/WJCE-3-4-1

Abstract

The herbicide paraquat, N, N’-dimethyl-4,4‘-bipyridiunium dication (N,N’-methyl viologen), is electrochromic. Experiments are described that investigate its redox chemistry (cyclic voltammetry), its optical properties (photometry and UV/Vis spectrophotometry), and its potential as a system for electrical “photoswitching” and as an accumulator for rechargeable devices. This set of teaching laboratory experiments closely reflects true procedures in commercial research and development endeavors, because the same system is probed with several quite different, but complementary, analytical methods.

Keywords

third-year undergraduate, analytical, electrochemistry, electrochromism, hands-on learning/manipulatives

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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