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S. Mertens:
"Adsorption and self-organization of organic molecules under electrochemical control";
in: "Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry: Surface Science and Electrochemistry; Ed. Klaus Wandelt", Vol. 4; Elsevier, 2018, S. 13 - 23.

Adsorption and self-organization of molecules on solid surfaces are guided by the interactions between the main components of this system: the tectons or building blocks, the substrate, and the phase (vacuum or liquid) in contact with the substrate. In addition to these components, each with their intrinsic properties, external stimuli can be used to steer adsorption and self-organization.
The focus in this article is adsorption and self-organization of organic molecules at electrified solid-liquid interfaces, that is, at the interface between an electronic and an ionic conductor (the electrolyte). At this interface, an electrochemical double layer is established in which a high electric field (on the order of 109 V m-1) exists. This electric field is a function of the externally applied potential and therefore can be tuned. Polarizable molecules that are present close to the electrified interface and molecules that carry a permanent net charge are expected to respond strongly to the effects of the electric field. In this article, we concentrate on how adsorbate-substrate and intermolecular interactions (van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, etc.) can be tuned by the electrochemical potential at solid-liquid interfaces, for systems that mostly do not involve a change of redox state. Switchable supramolecular systems that are based on oxidation or reduction of an electroactive moiety are not the main focus.1,2