Abstract
The dependence of tunneling current I on bias voltage Vb in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) measurements of multilayer electroactive films is interpreted in terms of a redox mechanism involving electron transfer reactions at the STM tip|film and electrode|film interfaces. Analysis suggests that a symmetrical I-Vb response is anticipated when the molecular film is sufficiently thick (ca. 2–3 monolayers) that the electron-transfer steps at the STM tip and electrode can be considered as discrete steps in the current-carrying processes. A macroscopic two-electrode thin-layer electrochemical cell is used to mimic the response of an electrode|redox film|STM tip junction. Steady-state symmetrical I-V responses are obtained for the thin-layer cell, even when the solution initially contains only one half of an electroactive redox couple. Tunneling spectroscopic measurements, using a STM, of dry films of protoporphyrin(IX)Fe(III)Cl deposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes are interpreted in terms of the proposed redox mechanism.
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