Abstract: We synthesized highly oriented zinc oxide-surfactant multilayers on silicon substrates from Zn(NO₃)₂ solutions containing extremely low concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The structure of the multilayers was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectrum, X-ray technologies and scan electron microscopy. Two methods were used to control the electrode potential. The results show that in the multi-potential step deposition mode one can change the period of the lamellar structure only when the concentration of the surfactant is below the saturated concentration at the corresponding potential. In the potentiostatic deposition mode, the films exhibit well-defined and homogeneous lamellar structure only at low potential. All the results indicate that the assembly of the surfactant molecules and metal ions on the solid-liquid interface is determined by the electrode potential, which controls the relative speed of the reduction of the zinc ions and the aggregation of the surfactant.

Key words: Electrochemical selfassembly, ZnO-surfactant hybrid multilayer, Electrode potential, X-ray