The blocking and structural properties of a Schiff base self-assembled monolayer on the surface of Au(111)

Electrochemistry and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) were used to study the blocking and structural properties of Shiff base V-ape-V self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the surface of Au(111) in perchloric acid solution. The complex-plane impedance plots for the SAM covered Au(111) electrodes, with the redox couple of Fe(CN)₆^4–/3– present in solution, exhibit arc shapes, revealing that the electrochemical kinetics were controlled by the electron-transfer step. For bare Au(111), the electrode process was mass transport limited. The molecules adsorb on Au(111) with a flat-lying orientation and form a long-range well-defined adlayer. A new structure of was observed in the double-layer potential region. A structural model is proposed to interpret the molecular registry with Au(111) substrate.