Adsorbed organic layers on surfaces are models for biological bilayers, lipid membranes, and biosensors. EIS is an important tool in the study of these materials. In this chapter, the study of self-assembled monolayers, bilayers, and biosensors will be presented.
Self-Assembled MonolayersSelf-assembled monolayers (SAMs) [482][483][484] are usually formed by a spontaneous reaction of alkanethiols with solid metal surfaces (e.g., Au, Ag, Cu). They can also be prepared using the Langmuir-Blodgett method. They form well-ordered, close-packed monolayers and may be applied in the control of wetting and adhesion, chemical resistance, photosensitization, molecular recognition for sensor applications, in fundamental studies of electron transfer, and other applications. The chains might be easily functionalized with various groups, e.g., hydrophilic or redox groups, or become biocompatible. SAMs form a single hydrophobic layer of hydrocarbon chains, usually strongly linked to the metallic support; however, multiple layers might also be deposited. Thiols form chemically bonded monolayers Me-S-R (Fig. 12.1) where metal, Me, is gold.Usually, quite compact layers are obtained. The simplest electrical equivalent model represents the solution resistance in series with the capacitance of a SAM, R s C SAM (Fig. 12.2a). More detailed analysis reveals that the layers are rarely purely capacitive and their capacitance is in parallel with their resistance, R SAM , leading to a circuit: R s (C SAM R SAM ). Moreover, a diffuse double layer exists at the SAM/solution interface [485, 486]. In such a case, the electrical equivalent circuit contains a diffuselayer capacitance, C dl , in parallel with the resistance, R dl (Fig. 12.2b).