Electron transfer across the interface gold/self-assembled organic monolayer : comparison of single- and two-component systems

Single- and two-component self-assembled organic monolayers (SAM) formed of HS-C 10H 20- COOH and the HS-C 10H 20-COOH + HS-C 6H 12-OH mixture and applied on gold electrodes of different shapes and roughness are studied. The resulting monolayers are characterized in 1 M NaNO 3 solutions by the methods of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 100 kHz and cyclic voltammetry in the potential range from 0 to -0.4 V (SCE). Using these method, the behavior of modified single-crystal and polycrystalline gold electrodes in electrolyte solutions of different acidity is assessed and the standard rate constants for the Ru[(NH 3) 6] 3+/2+ redox reaction are determined. The SAM film formed from the ethanol solution of the HS-C 10H 20-COOH + HS-C 6H 12-OH mixture (0.025 M) on the Au(210) single-crystal face lowers down the rate of the heterogeneous Ru[(NH 3) 6] 3+/2+ reaction from 1.5 to 4.02 × 10 -4 cm/s in the electrolyte solution with pH from 2. In solutions with higher pH, the rate constant is higher by almost an order of magnitude (2.74 × 10 -3 cm/s). The distribution of micropores in SAM films is studied within the framework of a model of micro-array electrodes. The results of studies are compared with the literature data on the gold electrode in solutions of inactive electrolytes in the absence and in the presence of SAM films formed by alkylmercaptans with equal chain lengths.