Electrochemical characteristics of coatings based on carbon black and novel partially oxidized pillar[5]arenes

Pillar[5]arenes (P5A) are a class of supramolecular materials with structural cavities able to capture small molecules and ions via host–guest interaction, which makes them promising for sensor assembly. However, the application of P5A in electrochemical sensors remains largely unexplored. This article examines the electrochemical properties of coatings incorporating partially oxidized P5A and ferrocene carboxylic acid (Fc-COOH). An electrochemical sensor was developed based on these two electron transfer mediators, carbon black (CB), and polyaniline (PANI). Polyaniline, owing to its capacity for redox conversion governed by pH, is well suited for the detection of hydrogen ions in the solution. The quantitative ratio of the P5A derivative to Fc-COOH during their simultaneous and layer-by-layer application in the coating assembly was assessed.