A Novel Method to Remove Self-Assembled Monolayer of Porphyrin from the Gold Surface by Cyclic Voltammetry

Cyclic voltammetry, a traditional technique used in self-assembled monolayer practice, was employed to explore the possibility of removing a very adherent self-assembled monolayer of 5-[4-(3-Mercaptopropyloxyphenyl)]-10,15,20-phenylporphyrin from a gold electrode surface. The phenylporphyrin monolayer was gradually removed and the gold electrode surface cleaned electrochemically, in strong alkaline electrolytes, using cyclic voltammetry at negative potentials. The results proved to be better than that obtained using mechanical polishing.