Electron Transfer to Ferrocene in Self-Assembled Monolayers on Electrodes

The self-assembly technique provides a synthetic method for positioning electron donor or acceptor molecules near an electrode surface. Ferrocene derivatives with pendant alkane thiol groups form robust monolayers on gold electrodes in which the electroactivity of the ferrocene group is preserved. The monolayers are structurally characterized by ellipsometry and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. Mixed monolayers of ferrocene- thiol derivatives diluted in simple alkane thiols can be prepared.