Potential-assisted deposition of mixed alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers

Abstract Preparation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) usually involves passive incubation. The recently developed potential-assisted deposition is indeed more selective as well as 100-fold faster than passive adsorption, thereby enhancing the reproducibility of the monolayer deposition. This article aims to identify the electrodeposition conditions necessary to prepare mixed alkanethiol SAMs on gold surface. Parameters such as concentrations in solution, electrode polarization and deposition time were examined for two chain lengths, C 3 (mercaptopropionic acid, MPA) and C 18 (octadecanethiol, ODT). The kinetics and composition of the SAMs were systematically characterized by reductive st…