title: On the origin of the efficient nanoparticle mediated electron transfer across a self-assembled monolayer.
abstract: Recent advances in bioelectrochemistry came from the elaboration of conducting electrodes modified by an organic layer onto which nanoparticles are adsorbed. Self-assembled monolayers on noble-metal electrodes are known to hinder the electrochemical kinetics of fast-transfer redox systems. Surprisingly, fast kinetics are recovered when metal nanoparticles are deposited on top of the monolayer. We show that this surprising behavior can be fully accounted for when realizing that electron transfer from metal to metal is intrinsically easier than transfer between metal and redox system by many orders of magnitude.
authors.affiliation: Physique de la Matière Condensée, École Polytechnique, CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau, France. jean-noel.chazalviel@polytechnique.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Noël
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Chazalviel
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allongue
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry; D004579:Electron Transport; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold