Molecular Functionalization of Interfaces between Different Phases from the Standpoint of Functional‐Interface Engineering

Abstract

Chemical and biochemical reactions have mainly been studied in homogeneous systems. Actually, the molecular interface consists of two functional interfaces: a solution-molecularphase interface and a molecular-solid phase interface. Many reports suggest that the regularity of the functional proteins on substrate surfaces is a key rate-limiting factor for functionalization of the molecular interface. The author has also suggested that the orientation of the molecules on the electrode surface is an important factor for smooth electron transfer between the immobilized molecules and the electrode surface. The Langmuir–Blodgett film is a typical well-known and pioneering example of an air-solution interface. Molecular modification of a solid surface has been extensively studied and applied, and the conventional methods for the modification of surface fall into four main categories: nonspecific physical adsorption; covalent cross-linking; entrapment; and newly developed method. The molecular interface actually consists of two functional interfaces:a solution phase–molecular layer interface and a molecular layer-solid phase (electrode) interface. Keywords: covalent cross-linking; electron transfer; functional interfaces; Langmuir–Blodgett film; molecular functionalization; nonspecific physical adsorption; solution phase–molecular layer interface