ABSTRACT
Chapter 42 describes the formation of surface-bound šlms by electrochemistry. In most cases, these šlmsarenanometerthick,andtheirdetectionandcharacterizationisbynowaystraightforwardas itrequeststheuseofhigh-performancesurface-sensitiveanalyticaltools.Thischapterhighlightsa largesetofmethodsthatpermittointerrogatethesaidthinšlmsintermsofthefollowingimportant characteristics:(1)thethicknessofthešlm,(2)thechemicalstructure(Whichchemicalgroupsare present? What is the length of the oligomers?), (3) the compacity of the šlm (presence or absence of pinholesinthešlm;Howmanygroupsarebondedtothesurfacepercm2, Γsurf? How many groups arethereinthewholethicknessofthelayer,Γvol?), (4) the presence of a chemical bond between thesurfaceandthešlm,and(5)thešnalpropertiesofthešlm(hydrophilic/hydrophobicsurface, possibleattachmentofbiomolecules,possibleanalyticalmeasurements,permeabilitytomolecular probes, etc.).
