Piotr Cyganik

Relative stability of thiol and selenol based SAMs on Au(111) — exchange experiments

Two fully analogue homologue series of thiol and selenol based aromatic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) in the form of CH(3)-(C(6)H(4))(2)-(CH(2))(n)-S-Au(111) (BPnS/Au(111), n = 2-6) and CH(3)-(C(6)H(4))(2)-(CH(2))(n)-Se-Au(111) (BPnSe/Au(111), n = 2-6), respectively, have been used to elucidate the relative stability of the S-Au(111) and Se-Au(111) bonding by monitoring their exchange by alkanethiol and alkaneselenol molecules from their respective solutions. The exchange process was monitored using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Two main results obtained by these study are: (1) the selenium-based BPnSe/Au(111) series is significantly more stable than their sulfur analogues; (2) a clear odd-even effect exists for the stability of both BPnS/Au(111) and BPnSe/Au(111) SAMs towards exchange processes with the even-numbered systems being less stable. The results obtained are discussed in view of previously reported microscopic and spectroscopic data of the same SAMs addressing the issue of the relative stability of S-Au(111) and Se-Au(111) bonding, which is an important factor for the rational design of SAMs.

AFM/LFM surface studies of a ternary polymer blend cast on substrates covered by a self-assembled monolayer

Nanometer films composed of model ternary blend of deuterated polystyrene (dPS), poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PVP) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were studied after spin-coating from a common solvent. Surface undulations and the distribution of phase-separated domains at the surface and in the bulk are closely related as revealed by atomic (AFM) and lateral (LFM) force microscopy. For the first time the chemical sensitivity of LFM is demonstrated for a ternary polymer mixture. In this case PMMA intercalates between dPS and PVP leading to extended interfaces and surface patterns with two dominant length scales (∼1 μm and ∼100 nm). Both of these length scales as well as the film thickness increase linearly with total polymer concentration in the solvent. Phase separation on two length scales is concluded.

Surface structure of metal-organic framework grown on self-assembled monolayers revealed by high-resolution atomic force microscopy.

The surface structure of an individual metal-organic framework (MOF) microcrystal grown on a functionalized surface has been successfully investigated for the first time in air and vacuum using high-resolution atomic force microscopy. Moreover, this detailed surface analysis has been utilized to optimize the MOF formation procedure to obtain a defect-free surface structure. Comparison of obtained data with recent microscopic studies performed on the same MOF crystal but grown by a conventional procedure clearly shows a much higher quality of crystals produced by surface oriented growth. Importantly, this method of preparing crystals suitable for microscopic analysis is also much faster (3 days compared to 2 years) and, in contrast to the conventional method, produces material suitable for in situ study. These results thus demonstrate for the first time the possibility of nanoscale investigation/modification of MOF surface structure.

Formation of Highly Ordered Self-Assembled Monolayers of Alkynes on Au(111) Substrate

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), prepared by reaction of terminal n-alkynes (HC≡C(CH2)nCH3, n = 5, 7, 9, and 11) with Au(111) at 60 °C were characterized using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angles of water. In contrast to previous spectroscopic studies of this type of SAMs, these combined microscopic and spectroscopic experiments confirm formation of highly ordered SAMs having packing densities and molecular chain orientations very similar to those of alkanethiolates on Au(111). Physical properties, hydrophobicity, high surface order, and packing density, also suggest that SAMs of alkynes are similar to SAMs of alkanethiols. The formation of high-quality SAMs from alkynes requires careful preparation and manipulation of reactants in an oxygen-free environment; trace quantities of O2 lead to oxidized contaminants and disordered surface films. The oxidation process occurs during formation of the SAM by oxidation of the -C≡C- group (most likely catalyzed by the gold substrate in the presence of O2).

Thiolate versus Selenolate: Structure, Stability, and Charge Transfer Properties

Selenolate is considered as an alternative to thiolate to serve as a headgroup mediating the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on coinage metal substrates. There are, however, ongoing vivid discussions regarding the advantages and disadvantages of these anchor groups, regarding, in particular, the energetics of the headgroup-substrate interface and their efficiency in terms of charge transport/transfer. Here we introduce a well-defined model system of 6-cyanonaphthalene-2-thiolate and -selenolate SAMs on Au(111) to resolve these controversies. The exact structural arrangements in both types of SAMs are somewhat different, suggesting a better SAM-building ability in the case of selenolates. At the same time, both types of SAMs have similar packing densities and molecular orientations. This permitted reliable competitive exchange and ion-beam-induced desorption experiments which provided unequivocal evidence for a stronger bonding of selenolates to the substrate as compared to the thiolates. Regardless of this difference, the dynamic charge transfer properties of the thiolate- and selenolate-based adsorbates were found to be nearly identical, as determined by the core-hole-clock approach, which is explained by a redistribution of electron density along the molecular framework, compensating the difference in the substrate-headgroup bond strength.

Characterizing the metal-SAM interface in tunneling junctions.

This paper investigates the influence of the interface between a gold or silver metal electrode and an n-alkyl SAM (supported on that electrode) on the rate of charge transport across junctions with structure Met(Au or Ag)(TS)/A(CH2)nH//Ga2O3/EGaIn by comparing measurements of current density, J(V), for Met/AR = Au/thiolate (Au/SR), Ag/thiolate (Ag/SR), Ag/carboxylate (Ag/O2CR), and Au/acetylene (Au/C≡CR), where R is an n-alkyl group. Values of J0 and β (from the Simmons equation) were indistinguishable for these four interfaces. Since the anchoring groups, A, have large differences in their physical and electronic properties, the observation that they are indistinguishable in their influence on the injection current, J0 (V = 0.5) indicates that these four Met/A interfaces do not contribute to the shape of the tunneling barrier in a way that influences J(V).

Ion-induced erosion of organic self-assembled monolayers

Laser post-ionization mass spectrometry combined with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) has been used to investigate processes of ion-stimulated erosion of self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of phenethyl mercaptan C6H5CH2CH2S (PEM) deposited on gold. Results indicate that only PEM fragments are emitted from the surface. Most of the PEM fragments (predominantly C6H5CH2CH3 with m/za 106) are emitted with thermal kinetic energies. STM images collected on 8 keV H a -irradiated surfaces with a system tuned to probe electronic states of sulfur atoms show no additional damage induced by irradiation. This indicates that sulfur atoms are not removed from the surface during hydrogen bombardment. It is proposed that the emission of SAM molecules is initiated by chemical reactions which gently break C‐S bonds. ” 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Odd-Even Effects in Ion-Beam-Induced Desorption of Biphenyl-Substituted Alkanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayers

Due to the ease of their preparation and their relatively high stability, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are promising candidates to be used in the development of micro- and nanostructured materials with various functionalities. [1] The formation of SAMs is mainly driven by a combination of molecule– substrate and intermolecular interactions. So far, most of the fundamental studies of SAMs structures have been performed on simple alkanethiols chemisorbed on the Au(111) substrate. [1, 2] The importance of alkane length odd-even effects in SAMs has been recently reviewed. [3] In particular, the odd-even effect was observed in the reaction of low-energy pyrazine and [D6]benzene molecular ions with the terminal group (e.g. CH3 or CF3) of aliphatic SAMs/Au(111). [4–6] Thus, a possibility of using low-energy molecular ion beams for analysis of the molecule–vacuum interface in SAMs was clearly demonstrated. More recently, aromatic thiols have moved into the focus of interest mainly due to their potential use in molecular electronics. [7–9] However, the stress which originates from the misfit between the structure preferred by the aromatic moieties and the structural template provided by the Au(111) substrate usually results in higher defect concentration in SAMs of aromatic thiols on Au(111). [10, 11] One way to overcome this problem can be realized by introducing an alkane spacer chain between the thiol head group and the aromatic moiety, as demonstrated in previous studies on the model system of biphenyl-substituted alkanethiols BPnS [CH3(C6H4)2(CH2)nSH, n = 1–6] on a Au(111) substrate. [10] By addition of the alkane spacer the individual thiolates forming these SAMs have additional degrees of freedom through which stress is reduced without breaking up the film structure. However, insertion of the flexible alkane

Oscillations in the stability of consecutive chemical bonds revealed by ion-induced desorption.

While it is a common concept in chemistry that strengthening of one bond results in weakening of the adjacent ones, no results have been published on if and how this effect protrudes further into the molecular backbone. By binding molecules to a surface in the form of a self-assembled monolayer, the strength of a primary bond can be selectively altered. Herein, we report that by using secondary-ion mass spectrometry, we are able to detect for the first time positional oscillations in the stability of consecutive bonds along the adsorbed molecule, with the amplitudes diminishing with increasing distance from the molecule-metal interface. To explain these observations, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations and DFT calculations. These show that the oscillation effects in chemical-bond stability have a very general nature and break the translational symmetry in molecules.

Anomalously Rapid Tunneling: Charge Transport across Self-Assembled Monolayers of Oligo(ethylene glycol)

This paper describes charge transport by tunneling across self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiol-terminated derivatives of oligo(ethylene glycol) (HS(CH2CH2O)nCH3; HS(EG)nCH3); these SAMs are positioned between gold bottom electrodes and Ga2O3/EGaIn top electrodes. Comparison of the attenuation factor (β of the simplified Simmons equation) across these SAMs with the corresponding value obtained with length-matched SAMs of oligophenyls (HS(Ph)nH) and n-alkanethiols (HS(CH2)nH) demonstrates that SAMs of oligo(ethylene glycol) have values of β (β(EG)n = 0.29 ± 0.02 natom-1 and β = 0.24 ± 0.01 Å-1) indistinguishable from values for SAMs of oligophenyls (β(Ph)n = 0.28 ± 0.03 Å-1), and significantly lower than those of SAMs of n-alkanethiolates (β(CH2)n = 0.94 ± 0.02 natom-1 and 0.77 ± 0.03 Å-1). There are two possible origins for this low value of β. The more probable involves hole tunneling by superexchange, which rationalizes the weak dependence of the rate of charge transport on the length of the molecules of HS(EG)nCH3 using interactions among the high-energy, occupied orbitals associated with the lone-pair electrons on oxygen. Based on this mechanism, SAMs of oligo(ethylene glycol)s are good conductors (by hole tunneling) but good insulators (by electron and/or hole drift conduction). This observation suggests SAMs derived from these or electronically similar molecules are a new class of electronic materials. A second but less probable mechanism for this unexpectedly low value of β for SAMs of S(EG)nCH3 rests on the possibility of disorder in the SAM and a systematic discrepancy between different estimates of the thickness of these SAMs.