Single-Component and Mixed Ferrocene-Terminated Alkyl Monolayers Covalently Bound to Si(111) Surfaces

Origins of non-ideal behaviour in voltammetric analysis of redox-active monolayers

Disorder in redox-active monolayers convolutes electrochemical characterization. This disorder can come from pinhole defects, loose packing, heterogeneous distribution of redox-active headgroups, and lateral interactions between immobilized redox-active molecules. Identifying the source of non-ideal behaviour in cyclic voltammograms can be challenging as different types of disorder often cause similar non-ideal cyclic voltammetry behaviour such as peak broadening, large peak-to-peak separation, peak asymmetry and multiple peaks for single redox processes. This Review provides an overview of ideal voltammetric behaviour for redox-active monolayers, common manifestations of disorder on voltammetric responses, common experimental parameters that can be varied to interrogate sources of disorder, and finally, examples of different types of disorder and how they impact electrochemical responses.

A Description of the Faradaic Current in Cyclic Voltammetry of Adsorbed Redox Species on Semiconductor Electrodes

A framework for interpreting the cyclic voltammetric responses from adsorbed redox monolayers on semiconductor electrodes has been developed. Expressions that describe quantitatively how the rates of the forward and back charge-transfer reactions impact the faradaic current density are presented. The primary insight is an explicit connection between the potential drops across the semiconductor space charge, surface, and electrolyte diffuse layers and the potential dependence of the reaction kinetics. Specifically, the evolution of the voltammetric shapes with experimental variables such as scan rate, standard potential of the redox adsorbate, and semiconductor surface energetics can now be interpreted for information on the operative charge-transfer rate constant and reaction energetics. This model is used to understand the complex dependence of the cathodic and anodic wave shapes for the first redox transition of an asymmetric viologen species adsorbed on n-Si(111). This system exhibited a heterogeneous rate constant of 0.24 s^-1 and exhibited features consistent with an overwhelming majority of the applied potential dropping within the semiconductor space charge region. In total, experimentalists now have a visual key on how to interpret the faradaic current in voltammetric data for information on heterogeneous charge-transfer reactions between semiconductor electrodes and molecular adsorbates. The presented approach fills a long-standing knowledge gap in electrochemistry and aids practitioners interested in advancing photoelectrochemical energy conversion/storage strategies.

Photoactive silicon surfaces functionalized with high-quality and redox-active platinum diimine complex monolayers

Platinum diimine complexes can covalently be grafted onto oxide-free, hydrogen-terminated silicon(111) surfaces into clean and high-quality monolayers. The so modified surfaces offer great prospects as photocathodes for solar-driven electrocatalysis.

Amine-Anchored Aromatic Self-Assembled Monolayer Junction: Structure and Electric Transport Properties

We studied the structure and transport properties of aromatic amine self-assembled monolayers (NH₂-SAMs) on an Au surface. The oligophenylene and oligoacene amines with variable lengths can form a densely packed and uniform monolayer under proper assembly conditions. Molecular junctions incorporating an eutectic Ga-In (EGaIn) top electrode were used to characterize the charge transport properties of the amine monolayer. The current density J of the junction decreases exponentially with the molecular length (d), as J = J₀ exp(-βd), which is a sign of tunneling transport, with indistinguishable values of J₀ and β for NH₂-SAMs of oligophenylene and oligoacene, indicating a similar molecule-electrode contact and tunneling barrier for two groups of molecules. Compared with the oligophenylene and oligoacene molecules with thiol (SH) as the anchor group, a similar β value (∼0.35 Å^-1) of the aromatic NH₂-SAM suggests a similar tunneling barrier, while a lower (by 2 orders of magnitude) injection current J₀ is attributed to lower electronic coupling Γ of the amine group with the electrode. These observations are further supported by single-level tunneling model fitting. Our study here demonstrates the NH₂-SAMs can work as an effective active layer for molecular junctions, and provide key physical parameters for the charge transport, paving the road for their applications in functional devices.

Immobilizing a π-Conjugated Catecholato Framework on Surfaces of SiO2 Insulator Films via a One-Atom Anchor of a Platinum Metal Center to Modulate Organic Transistor Performance

Chemical modification of insulating material surfaces is an important methodology to improve the performance of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). However, few redox-active self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been constructed on gate insulator film surfaces, in contrast to the numerous SAMs formed on many types of conducting electrodes. In this study, we report a new approach to introduce a π-conjugated organic fragment in close proximity to an insulating material surface via a transition metal center acting as a one-atom anchor. On the basis of the reported coordination chemistry of a catecholato complex of Pt(II) in solution, we demonstrate that ligand exchange can occur on an insulating material surface, affording SAMs on the SiO₂ surface derived from a newly synthesized Pt(II) complex containing a benzothienobenzothiophene (BTBT) framework in the catecholato ligand. The resultant SAMs were characterized in detail by water contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The SAMs served as good scaffolds of π-conjugated pillars for forming thin films of a well-known organic semiconductor C8-BTBT (2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene), accompanied by the engagements of the C8-BTBT molecules with the SAMs containing the common BTBT framework at the first layer on SiO₂. OFETs containing the SAMs displayed improved performance in terms of hole mobility and onset voltage, presumably because of the unique interfacial structure between the organic semiconducting and inorganic insulating layers. These findings provide important insight into creating new elaborate interfaces through installing coordination chemistry in solution to solid surfaces, as well as OFET design by considering the compatibility between SAMs and organic semiconductors.

Ferrocene on Insulator: Silane Coupling to a SiO2 Surface and Influence on Electrical Transport at a Buried Interface with an Organic Semiconductor Layer

A silane coupling-based procedure for decoration of an insulator surface containing abundant hydroxy groups by constructing redox-active self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is described. A newly synthesized ferrocene (Fc) derivative containing a triethoxysilyl group designated FcSi was immobilized on SiO₂/Si by a simple operation that involved immersing the substrate in a toluene solution of the Fc silane coupling reagent and then rinsing the resulting substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirmed that the Fc group was immobilized on SiO₂/Si in the Fe(II) state. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that the Fc groups were electrically insulated from the Si electrode by the SiO₂ layer. The FcSi on SiO₂/Si structures were found to serve as a good scaffold for formation of organic semiconductor thin films by vacuum thermal evaporation of C8-BTBT (2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene), which is well-known as an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) material. The X-ray diffraction profile indicated that the conventional standing-up conformation of the C8-BTBT molecules perpendicular to the substrates was maintained in the thin films formed on FcSi@SiO₂/Si. Further vacuum thermal evaporation of Au provided an FcSi-based OFET structure with good transfer characteristics. The FcSi-based OFET showed pronounced source-drain current hysteresis between the forward and backward scans. The degree of this hysteresis was varied reversibly via gate bias manipulation, which was presumably accompanied by trapping and detrapping of hole carriers at the Fc-decorated SiO₂ surface. These findings provide new insights into application of redox-active SAMs to nonvolatile OFET memories while also creating new interfaces through junctions with functional thin films, in which the underlying redox-active SAMs play supporting roles.

Redox-Active Ferrocene grafted on H-Terminated Si(111): Electrochemical Characterization of the Charge Transport Mechanism and Dynamics

Electroactive self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) bearing a ferrocene (Fc) redox couple were chemically assembled on H-terminated semiconducting degenerate-doped n-type Si(111) substrate. This allows to create a Si(111)|organic-spacer|Fc hybrid interface, where the ferrocene moiety is covalently immobilized on the silicon, via two alkyl molecular spacers of different length. Organic monolayer formation was probed by Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, which were also used to estimate thickness and surface assembled monolayer (SAM) surface coverage. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements allowed to ascertain surface morphology and roughness. The single electron transfer process, between the ferrocene redox probe and the Si electrode surface, was probed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. CVs recorded at different scan rates, in the 10 to 500 mV s⁻¹ range, allowed to determine peak-to-peak separation, half-wave potential, and charge-transfer rate constant (K_ET). The experimental findings suggest that the electron transfer is a one electron quasi-reversible process. The present demonstration of surface engineering of functional redox-active organometallic molecule can be efficient in the field of molecular electronics, surface-base redox chemistry, opto-electronic applications.

Structure of Mixed Acid/Decyl Monolayers Grafted on Oxide-Free Si(111) Surfaces

The structure of mixed acid/decyl monolayers (MLs) grafted on oxide-free Si(111) surfaces by photochemical hydrosilylation in a mixture of neat undecylenic acid and 1-decene is studied in detail. After appropriate surface cleaning of the as-grafted surfaces, atomic force microscopy (AFM) (topography and phase imaging) and calibrated FTIR analysis demonstrate that a mixed monolayer is formed, free of residue. When the acid-molecule fraction (Γ_SOL) is >0.1, mixed MLs are homogeneous on the scale of observations and they are only slightly enriched in acid chains with respect to the solution. Conversely, when Γ_SOL < 0.1, the acid chain fraction within the ML becomes quasi-independent of the solution composition and may become much larger than Γ_SOL. In addition, dark domains are observed in AFM phase images. Correlations between the characteristic parameters of νCO IR bands and AFM phase images suggest a strong phase separation of acid and alkyl chains at various length scales. A model involving a structuration of the grafting solution is proposed to explain observations.

Ferrocene Molecular Architectures Grafted on Si(111): A Theoretical Calculation of the Standard Oxidation Potentials and Electron Transfer Rate Constant

The standard oxidation potential and the electron transfer (ET) rate constants of two silicon-based hybrid interfaces, Si(111)/organic-spacer/Ferrocene, are theoretically calculated and assessed. The dynamics of the electrochemical driven ET process is modeled in terms of the classical donor/acceptor scheme within the framework of “Marcus theory”. The ET rate constants, kET, are determined following calculation of the electron transfer matrix element, VRP, together with the knowledge of the energy of the neutral and charge separated systems. The recently introduced Constrained Density Functional Theory (CDFT) method is exploited to optimize the structure and determine the energy of the charge separated species. Calculated ET rate constants are kET=77.8 s−1 and kET=1.3×10−9 s−1, in the case of the short and long organic-spacer, respectively.

Covalent Modification of Glassy Carbon Surfaces by Electrochemical Grafting of Aryl Iodides

The reduction of an aryl iodide is generally believed to involve a clean-cut two-electron reduction to produce an aryl anion and iodide. This is in contradiction to what is observed if a highly efficient grafting agent, such as an aryldiazonium salt, is employed. The difference in behavior is explained by the much more extreme potentials required for reducing an aryl iodide, which facilitates the further reduction of the aryl radical formed as an intermediate. However, in this study we disclose that electrografting of aryl iodides is indeed possible upon extended voltammetric cycling. This implies that even if the number of aryl radicals left unreduced at the electrode surface is exceedingly small, a functionalization of the surface may still be promoted. In fact, the grafting efficiency is found to increase during the grafting process, which may be explained by the inhibiting effect the growing film exerts on the competing reduction of the aryl radical. The slow buildup of the organic film results in a well-ordered structure as shown by the well-defined electrochemical response from a grafted film containing ferrocenylmethyl groups. Hence, the reduction of aryl iodides allows a precisely controlled, albeit slow, growth of thin organic films.

Surface and Electrochemical Properties of Polymer Brush-Based Redox Poly(Ionic Liquid)

Redox-active poly(ionic liquid) poly(3-(2-methacryloyloxy ethyl)-1-(N-(ferrocenylmethyl) imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide deposited onto electrode surfaces has been prepared using surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization SI-ATRP. The process starts by electrochemical immobilization of initiator layer, and then methacrylate monomer carrying ferrocene and imidazolium units is polymerized in ionic liquid media via SI-ATRP process. The surfaces analyses of the polymer exhibit a well-defined polymer brushlike structure and confirm the presence of ferrocene and ionic moieties within the film. Furthermore, the electrochemical investigations of poly(redox-active ionic liquid) in different media demonstrate that the electron transfer is not restricted by the rate of counterion migration into/out of the polymer. The attractive electrochemical performance of these materials is further demonstrated by performing electrochemical measurement, of poly(ferrocene ionic liquid), in solvent-free electrolyte. The facile synthesis of such highly ordered electroactive materials based ionic liquid could be useful for the fabrication of nanostructured electrode suitable for performing electrochemistry in solvent free electrolyte. We also demonstrate possible applications of the poly(FcIL) as electrochemically reversible surface wettability system and as electrochemical sensor for the catalytic activity toward the oxidation of tyrosine.

Covalent Attachment of Ferrocene to Silicon Microwire Arrays

A fully integrated, freestanding device for photoelectrochemical fuel generation will likely require covalent attachment of catalysts to the surface of the photoelectrodes. Ferrocene has been utilized in the past as a model system for molecular catalyst integration on planar silicon; however, the surface structure of high-aspect ratio silicon microwires envisioned for a potential device presents potential challenges with respect to stability, characterization, and mass transport. Attachment of vinylferrocene to Cl-terminated surfaces of silicon microwires was performed thermally. By varying the reaction time, solutions of vinylferrocene in di-n-butyl ether were employed to control the extent of functionalization. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemistry were used to estimate the density and surface coverage of the silicon microwire arrays with ferrocenyl groups, which could be controllably varied from 1.23 × 10(-11) to 4.60 × 10(-10) mol cm(-2) or 1 to 30% of a monolayer. Subsequent backfill of the remaining Si-Cl sites with methyl groups produced ferrocenyl-terminated surfaces that showed unchanged cyclic volammograms following two months in air, under ambient conditions, and repeated electrochemical cycling.

In-Depth Electrochemical Investigation of Surface Attachment Chemistry via Carbodiimide Coupling

Aminoferrocene is used as an electroactive indicator to investigate carbodiimide coupling reactions on a carboxylic acid-functionalized self-assembled monolayer. The commonly used attachment chemistry with 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) is used for surface activation. A number of conditions are investigated, including EDC and NHS concentration, buffer solutions, incubation timing, and aminoferrocene concentration. Ferrocene is a well-documented electroactive species, and the number of surface-bound ferrocene species can be calculated using electrochemical methods. This capability allows determination of optimal conditions, as well as providing a method for comparing and investigating novel carboxylated surfaces. An EDC-mediated procedure with ∼5 mM EDC and NHS (1:1) made in water, with a full acid monolayer, with 250 μM aminoferrocene for 40 min was found to give the highest ferrocene attachment. An application of this is demonstrated for preparing a probe-DNA-coated surface for DNA sensing. By backfilling with aminoferrocene, a differential quantification of the amount of probe DNA available for sensing can be obtained. This provides an elegant method to monitor an important aspect, namely, probe surface characterization, which will be highly useful for biosensing purposes.

Electron Transfer through Surface-Grown, Ferrocene-Capped Oligophenylene Molecular Wires (5-50 Å) on n-Si(111) Photoelectrodes

We report the surface growth of oligophenylene molecular wires on Si(111) substrates and their electron-transfer (ET) properties. Iterative wire growth of biphenylene was achieved via Pd-catalyzed Negishi reactions for lengths of nphenyl = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 (d ≈ 5-50 Å). The triflato-capped wires were functionalized with vinylferrocene for potentiometric studies. For the oligophenylenes of nphenyl = 1, 2, and 4 (wire length d ≈ 5-20 Å), there was a strong distance dependence (kapp = 22.6, 16.0, 8.40 s(-1), respectively), correlated to β = 0.07 Å(-1). In contrast, longer oligophenylenes for nphenyl = 4-12 (d ≈ 20-50 Å) displayed a negligible distance dependence with an ET rate of kapp ≈ 10.0 ± 1.6 s(-1). These data suggest a distance-dependent tunneling mechanism at short lengths (d < 20 Å) and a distance-independent ET at longer lengths (d > 20 Å).

Covalent attachment of 1-alkenes to oxidized platinum surfaces

We report the formation of covalently bound alkyl layers onto oxidized Pt (PtOx) substrates by reaction with 1-alkenes as a novel way to bind organic molecules to metal surfaces. The organic layers were characterized by static contact angle, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The grafted alkyl layers display a hydrolytic stability that is comparable to that of alkyl thiols on Au. PtOx-alkene attachment is compatible with terminal ester moieties enabling further anchoring of functional groups, such as redox-active ferrocene, and thus has great potential to extend monolayer chemistry on noble metals.

Micropatterned ferrocenyl monolayers covalently bound to hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces: effects of pattern size on the cyclic voltammetry and capacitance characteristics

The effect of the size of patterns of micropatterned ferrocene (Fc)-functionalized, oxide-free n-type Si(111) surfaces was systematically investigated by electrochemical methods. Microcontact printing with amine-functionalized Fc derivatives was performed on a homogeneous acid fluoride-terminated alkenyl monolayer covalently bound to n-type H-terminated Si surfaces to give Fc patterns of different sizes (5 × 5, 10 × 10, and 20 × 20 μm(2)), followed by backfilling with n-butylamine. These Fc-micropatterned surfaces were characterized by static water contact angle measurements, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The charge-transfer process between the Fc-micropatterned and underlying Si interface was subsequently studied by cyclic voltammetry and capacitance. By electrochemical studies, it is evident that the smallest electroactive ferrocenyl patterns (i.e., 5 × 5 μm(2) squares) show ideal surface electrochemistry, which is characterized by narrow, perfectly symmetric, and intense cyclic voltammetry and capacitance peaks. In this respect, strategies are briefly discussed to further improve the development of photoswitchable charge storage microcells using the produced redox-active monolayers.

Surface modification of silicon oxide with trialkoxysilanes toward close-packed monolayer formation

In order to scrutinize potential of trialkoxysilanes to form close-packed monolayer, surface modification of silicon oxide was carried out with the trialkoxysilanes bearing a ferrocene moiety for analysis by electrochemical methods. As it was found that hydrogen-terminated silicon reacts with trialkoxysilane through natural oxidation in organic solvents, where the silicon oxide layer is thin enough to afford conductivity for electrochemical analysis, hydrogen-terminated silicon wafer was immersed in trialkoxysilane solution for surface modification without oxidation treatment. Cyclic voltammetry measurements to determine surface concentrations of the immobilized ferrocene-silane on silicon surface were carried out with various temperature, concentration, solvent, and molecular structure, while the blocking effect in the cyclic voltammogram was investigated to obtain insight into density leading to the close-packed layer. The results suggested that a monolayer modification tended to occur under milder conditions when the ferrocene-silane had a longer alkyl chain, and formation of a close-packed layer to show significant blocking effect was observed. However, the surface modification proceeded even when surface concentration of the immobilized ferrocene-silane was greater than that expected for the monolayer. On the basis of these tendencies, the surface of silicon oxide modified with trialkoxysilane is considered to be a partial multilayer rather than monolayer although a close-packed layer is formed. This result is supported by the comparison with carbon surface modified with ferrocene-diazonium, in which a significant blocking effect was observed when surface concentrations of the immobilized ferrocene moiety are lower than that for silicon oxide modified with ferrocene-silane.

Multiredox tetrathiafulvalene-modified oxide-free hydrogen-terminated Si(100) surfaces

Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) monolayers covalently bound to oxide-free hydrogen-terminated Si(100) surfaces have been prepared from the hydrosilylation reaction involving a TTF-terminated ethyne derivative. FTIR spectroscopy characterization using similarly modified porous Si(100) substrates revealed the presence of vibration bands assigned to the immobilized TTF rings and the Si-C═C- interfacial bonds. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed the presence of two reversible one-electron systems ascribed to TTF/TTF(.+) and TTF(.+)/TTF(2+) redox couples at ca. 0.40 and 0.75 V vs SCE, respectively, which compare well with the values determined for the electroactive molecule in solution. The amount of immobilized TTF units could be varied in the range from 1.7 × 10(-10) to 5.2 × 10(-10) mol cm(-2) by diluting the TTF-terminated chains with inert n-decenyl chains. The highest coverage obtained for the single-component monolayer is consistent with a densely packed TTF monolayer.

Click chemistry-based functionalization on non-oxidized silicon substrates

Copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), combined with the chemical stability of the Si-C-bound organic layer, serves as an efficient tool for the modification of silicon substrates, particularly for the immobilization of complex biomolecules. This review covers recent advances in the preparation of alkynyl- or azido-terminated "clickable" platforms on non-oxidized silicon and their further derivatization by means of the CuAAC reaction. The exploitation of these "click"-functionalized organic thin films as model surfaces to study many biological events was also addressed, as they are directly relevant to the on-going effort of creating silicon-based molecular electronics and chemical/biomolecular sensors.

Tandem "click" reactions at acetylene-terminated Si(100) monolayers

We demonstrate a simple method for coupling alkynes to alkynes. The method involves tandem azide-alkyne cycloaddition reactions ("click" chemistry) for the immobilization of 1-alkyne species onto an alkyne modified surface in a one-pot procedure. In the case presented, these reactions take place on a nonoxidized Si(100) surface although the approach is general for linking alkynes to alkynes. The applicability of the method in the preparation of electrically well-behaved functionalized surfaces is demonstrated by coupling an alkyne-tagged ferrocene species onto alkyne-terminated Si(100) surfaces. The utility of the approach in biotechnology is shown by constructing a DNA sensing interface by derivatization of the acetylenyl surface with commercially available alkyne-tagged oligonucleotides. Cyclic voltametry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray reflectometry are used to characterize the coupling reactions and performance of the final modified surfaces. These data show that this synthetic protocol gives chemically well-defined, electronically well-behaved, and robust (bio)functionalized monolayers on silicon semiconducting surfaces.

Ferrocene-terminated monolayers covalently bound to hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces. Toward the development of charge storage and communication devices

The combination of monocrystalline silicon's well-defined structure and the ability to prepare hydrogen-terminated surfaces (Si-H) easily and reproducibly has made this material a very attractive substrate for immobilizing functional molecules. The functionalization of Si-H using the covalent attachment of organic monolayers has received intense attention due to the numerous potential applications of controlled and robust organic/Si interfaces. Researchers have investigated these materials in diverse fields such as molecular electronics, chemistry, and bioanalytical chemistry. Applications include the preparation of surface insulators, the incorporation of chemical or biochemical functionality at interfaces for use in photovoltaic conversion, and the development of new chemical and biological sensing devices. Unlike those of gold, silicon's electronic properties are tunable, and researchers can directly integrate silicon-based devices within electronic circuitry. Moreover, the technological processes used for the micro- and nanopatterning of silicon are numerous and mature enough for producing highly miniaturized functional electronic components. In this Account, we describe a powerful approach that integrates redox-active molecules, such as ferrocene, onto silicon toward electrically addressable systems devoted to information storage or transfer. Ferrocene exhibits attractive electrochemical characteristics: fast electron-transfer rate, low oxidation potential, and two stable redox states (neutral ferrocene and oxidized ferrocenium). Accordingly, ferrocene-modified silicon surfaces could be used as charge storage components with the bound ferrocene center as the memory element. Upon application of a positive potential to silicon, ferrocene is oxidized to its corresponding ferrocenium form. This redox change is equivalent to the change of a bit of information from the "0" to "1" state. To erase the stored charge and return the device to its initial state, a low potential must be applied to reduce the whole generated ferrocenium. In this type of application, the electron is transferred from the ferrocene headgroups to the underlying conducting silicon surface by a tunneling process across the monolayer. To produce a stable and reproducible electrical response, this process must be efficient, fast, and reversible. The stability, charge density, and capacitance performances of high-quality ferrocene-terminated monolayers could compete with those of the existing semiconductor-based memory devices, such as dynamic random access memories, DRAMs. Moreover, we provide experimental evidence that a series of immobilized ferrocene centers can efficiently communicate via a lateral electron hopping process. Using these modified interfaces, we demonstrate that the thin redox-active monolayer can behave as a purely conducting material, highlighting an unprecedented very fast electron communication between immobilized redox groups. Perhaps more importantly, the surface coverage of ferrocene allows us to precisely control the rate of this process. Such characteristics are relevant not only for electrocatalytic reactions but also for widening the potential applications of these assemblies to novel molecular electronic devices (e.g. chemiresistors, chemically sensitive field-effect transistors (CHEMFETs)) and redox chemistry on insulating surfaces.