Catechols, Catecholamines, and Hydroxylated Naphthalene Derivatives as Building Blocks for the Electrochemical Deposition of Thin Films: Mechanisms and Properties

Hydroxylated aromatic molecules, namely phenol derivatives, catecholamines, and naphthalenes, are known for their acidity, redox properties, and reactivity with nucleophiles. This versatile chemistry is a landmark in living organisms. There, these molecules afford adhesion, stability, and protection against parasites. The large diversity of functional groups and their cross‐reactivity, however, complicate the characterization of the obtained insoluble reaction products. In this landscape, electrochemical deposition of members of this vast family of molecules allows to eliminate toxic phenol derivatives but appears also as a way to produce functional coatings. This review describes the possible fate of surface‐controlled electrochemical processes of phenol derivatives, catecholamines, and hydroxylated naphthalenes. Under strong oxidative conditions, the solutes are mineralized, but in the electrochemical stability window, the electrode may undergo passivation or deposition of porous, eventually conductive films. The major results obtained over the last 50 years will be discussed in relation to the molecular structure, the solvent, pH, and potential sweep rate. Some perspectives will be given to reach a deeper structure–solvent–pH–electrode relationship concerning the fate of the electrochemical experiments performed on those molecules. In particular, the proximity of the two hydroxyl groups will be proposed as a design tool to produce thick and porous coatings.