Adlayers phthalocyanine/porphyrin

Among the main goals of electrochemical research are the design, characterization and understanding of electrocatalytic systems, (1-2) both in solution and on electrode surfaces. (3.) Of particular importance are the nature and structure of reactive intermediates involved in the electrocatalytic reactions.(A) The nature of an electrocatalytic system can be quite varied and can include activation of the electrode surface by specific pretreatments (5-9) to generate active sites, deposition or adsorption of metallic adlayers (10-111 or transition metal complexes. (12-161 In addition the electrode can act as a simple electron shuttle to an active species in solution such as a metallo-porphyrin or phthalocyanine. 

More EC-STM studies have been devoted to porphyrin and phthalocyanine adlayers on singlecrystal metal electrodes than to any other type of organic adlayers. Becanse extensive reviews have discussed this particular topic, we will limit the discussion of this subject here to a few examples that emphasize the particular features of porphyrin and phthalocyanine adlayers and emphasize the versatility that they offer for the design of functional surfaces under electrochemical control. 

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