In situ real time monitoring of kinetics of thiol adsorption on gold based on electrochemical steady-state current

The growth kinetics of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was measured by decrease in steady-state faradic current related to the formation of an insulating SAM. The steady-state current produced by the oxidation of ferrocene in the presence of a rotating disk electrode decreased by introduction of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) related to formation of an insulating MUA SAM. The time constants derived from fitting the measured current to the rearrange-limited Langmuir model agreed well with previously reported results determined using other techniques, demonstrating that our simple method can reliably characterize SAM adsorption kinetics in situ and real timely.

► Steady-state faradic current measurements for monitoring the adsorption kinetics of SAM.
► Model for the relationship between the current and the coverage two-step adsorption kinetics was observed.