UV-vis absorbance spectra taken at different elapsed time for the surface plasmon band shift indicated that the self-assembly of PhSeCN on gold should be slower than that of phenyl selenolate (PhSeH). A surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) study showed that a trace amount of CN species could remain on An surfaces when aromatic selenocyanates are reduced to give CN and their selenium atoms bound to the surface. Our concentration dependent SERS spectra suggested that the CN adsorption should be more favorable at higher concentrations of PhSeCN as indicated from more prominent intensites of the CN stretching vibration at 2110-2150 cm2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.