A THIN FILM WITH PHOSPHOTUNGSTATE NANOCLUSTERS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO MATERIALS SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE THE ELECTROREDUCTION OF HEXAZINONE

Aim: In the work reported here, we investigated the surface topography and the electrocatalytical ability toward hexazinone herbicide of a film of hybrid organically modified silicate (ormosil) using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and phosphotungstic acid (HPW), a polyoxometalate (POM) nanocluster. Method: The morphology of the film on gold electrode was studied with a recent surface analysis technique based on atomic force microscopy coupled with infrared absorption spectroscopy. Result: This hybrid ormosil film showed nanopores distributed throughout the surface and the interaction between HPW clusters and amine groups was electrostatic. Result: The electrocatalytic reduction of hexazinone occurred at 0.20 V vs. Ag/AgCl in acidic medium pH 0.80 as shown by cyclic voltammetry analyses. Result: Solid state 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance analyses showed that the distribution of silicate groups in the ormosil is formed by Q3 and Q4 species. Conclusion: Since a sensor for hexazinone was not aimed here, this system studied can contribute to the improvement of useful materials in environmental science research.