The influence of different surfactants on Au-colloid modified electrode function has been investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance techniques. Colloidal An was self-assembled onto the gold electrode through the thiol-groups of 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT) monolayer. It was found that some HDT molecules stood on the gold electrode and some molecules lay on the electrode by using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). A cathodic peak at about 0.486 V (vs. SCE) was observed at the bare gold electrode and the Au-colloid modified electrode. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the influence of different surfactants on the cathodic peak of Au-colloid modified electrode. Electrochemical impedance technique was also used to study the electron transfer ability of the redox probe on Au-colloid modified electrode after being immersed in different surfactants. The results showed that anionic surfactant and cationic surfactant exhibit different behaviors, the reason of which was discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.