Interfacial design and functionization on metal electrodes through self-assembled monolayers

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide a convenient, flexible, and simple system with which to tailor and functionalize the interfacial properties of metal electrodes. The SAMs on metal electrode have been investigated widely in electrochemical, biochemical analysis or nanotechnology. This review focuses on the preparation, formation, structure, and applications of the SAMs formed from various materials, including thiols, sulfides, silanes, biomolecules and other composites, on metal electrode. To begin with the outline of the SAMs on metal electrodes, it describes systems of SAMs on metal electrodes and advances made in this area recently. Emphatically, the SAMs of biomolecules on metal electrodes are explored separately. In addition, it illustrates wide applications of the SAMs on metal electrodes for electrochemistry, biosensors, nanodevices and so on.