Scanning electrochemical microscopy investigations of monolayers bound to p-type silicon substrates.

p-Si type electrodes modified with different organic monolayers were investigated by reaction with radical anion and cation electrogenerated at a microelectrode operating in the configuration of a scanning electrochemical microscope. The method proves to be a convenient tool for investigating both the quality and the redox properties of the layer as previously demonstrated on metallic electrodes especially when the sample cannot be electrically connected. Approach curves recorded with the different mediators were used to investigate the electron-transfer rates across alkyl monolayers bound to p-type silicon substrates. Preliminary results indicate that the interfacial electron transfer occurs via electron tunneling through the organic layer as generally described for SAMs grafted on gold electrodes.