Improved molecular rectification from self-assembled monolayers of a sterically hindered dye

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed from the reaction of 1-(10-acetylsulfanyldecyl)-4-[2-(4-dimethylaminonaphthalen-1-yl)-vinyl]-quinolinium iodide (1a) and gold-coated substrates exhibit asymmetric current-voltage (I-V) characteristics with a rectification ratio of 50-150 at +/-1 V. It is the highest to date for a molecular diode, and the improved behavior may be assigned in part to the controlled alignment of the donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor moieties and in part to steric hindrance, which imposes a nonplanar structure and effectively isolates the molecular orbitals of the donor and acceptor end groups. The molecular origin of the rectification is verified by its suppression upon exposure to HCl vapor, which protonates the dimethylamino group and inhibits the electron-donating properties, with restoration upon exposure to NH3. It is also established by a reduced rectification ratio of ca. 2 at +/-1 V when the cationic D-pi-A+ moieties adopt an antiparallel arrangement in self-assembled films of the derivative, bis-[1-(10-decyl)-4-[2-(4-dimethylaminonaphthalen-1-yl)-vinyl]-quinolinium]-disulfide diiodide (1b), which adsorbs via one of its terminal donors without rupture of the sulfur-sulfur bond: Au/D-pi-A+-C10H20-S-S-C10H20-+A-pi-D (I-)2.     

Spectroscopy and rectification of three donor-sigma-acceptor compounds, consisting of a one-electron donor (pyrene or ferrocene), a one-electron acceptor (perylenebisimide), and a C19 swallowtail

We report spectroscopic characterization and unimolecular rectification (asymmetric electrical conduction) measurements of three donor-sigma-acceptor (D-sigma-A) compounds N-(10-nonadecyl)-N-(1-pyrenylmethyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (1), N-(10-nonadecyl)-N-(4-[1-pyrenyl]butyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (2), and N-(10-nonadecyl)-N-(2-ferrocenylethyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (3). These molecules were arranged as one-molecule thick Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers between Au electrodes. In such an "Au | D-sigma-A | Au" sandwich, molecule 1 is a unimolecular rectifier, with rather small rectification ratios (between 2 and 3 at +/-1 V) that decrease upon cycling. Molecule 2 does not rectify. Molecule 3 rectifies, with a rectification ratio of between 14 and 28 at +/-1 V; the through-film rectification and currents persist, even with scans of +/-2 V, for up to 40 cycles of measurement. Qualitative arguments, based on a two-level rectification mechanism, are consistent with the current asymmetries observed in the monolayers of 1 and 3.     

Organic rectifying junctions fabricated by ionic coupling

Ionically-assembled structures that comprise discrete layers of cationic acceptors (4,4'-bipyridinium) and anionic donors (copper phthalocyanine-3,4',4',4'-tetrasulfonate) exhibit asymmetric current-voltage (I-V) characteristics with high rectification ratios of 60-100 at +/-1 V.     

Current rectification in a Langmuir-Schaefer monolayer of fullerene-bis-[4-diphenylamino-4' '-(n-ethyl-n-2' ''-ethyl)amino-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene] malonate between Au electrodes

Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) monolayer films of fullerene-bis-[4-diphenylamino-4' '-(N-ethyl-N-2' '-ethyl)amino-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene] malonate, 1, sandwiched between two Au electrodes, exhibit pronounced current asymmetries (rectification) between positive and negative bias at room temperature, with no decay of the rectification after several cycles. The device shows symmetrical through-space tunneling for a bias up to +/-3 V, and asymmetrical, unimolecular, "U" type rectifier behavior in the voltage range from +/-3.0 to +/-5.4 V, with rectification ratios up to 16.5. The rectification is ascribed to the asymmetric placement of the relevant molecular orbitals, with respect to the metallic electrodes.     

Molecular rectification: self-assembled monolayers in which donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor moieties are centrally located and symmetrically coupled to both gold electrodes

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) obtained from 1-(10-acetylsulfanyldecyl)-4-[2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)vinyl]quinolinium iodide exhibit asymmetric current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The rectification may be reversibly switched: it is suppressed when the film is exposed to HCl vapor, the intramolecular charge-transfer axis being inhibited by protonation, but restored when exposed to NH(3). The behavior is intrinsic to the donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor moiety, and ambiguity in the assignment has been excluded by matching the alkyl tails on the substrate and contacting STM tip to locate the chromophore midway between the electrodes: Au-S-C(10)H(21)//D-pi-A-C(10)H(20)-S-Au. Films contacted by gold tips exhibit rectification ratios of ca. 18 at +/-1 V, whereas those contacted by pentanethiolate (Au-S-C(5)H(11))- and decanethiolate (Au-S-C(10)H(21))-coated tips have corresponding ratios of ca. 11 and 5, respectively. The I-V curves are different, but when adjusted for thickness the current versus electric field dependence is indistinguishable. Seven dyes are reported: SAMs with sterically hindered D-pi-A moieties, in which the donor and acceptor are twisted out of plane, exhibit rectification, whereas those that are planar or have a weak donor-acceptor combination do not.     

Adsorption and release behavior of bare and DNA-wrapped-carbon nanotubes on self-assembled monolayer surface

The adsorption and release behavior of single-stranded DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (ssDNA-w-SWCNTs) on alkylthiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surface was systematically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Fast electron transfer between bare Au electrode and redox species blocked by the alkylthiol SAM can be restored by SWCNTs or ssDNA-w-SWCNTs. The release of ssDNA-w-SWCNTs is carried out by positive or negative desorption potential. SWCNTs/SAM or ssDNA-w-SWCNTs/SAM is completely removed from Au surface at +0.90 V or -1.40 V (vs. 3.0 M KCl|Ag|AgCl). The controlled release of SWCNTs/SAM and ssDNA-w-SWCNTs/SAM holds great promise for gene delivering.     

Molecular rectification in a metal-insulator-metal junction based on self-assembled monolayers

An electrical junction formed by mechanical contact between two self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)--a SAM formed from an dialkyl disulfide with a covalently linked tetracyanoquinodimethane group that is supported by silver (or gold) and a SAM formed from an alkanethiolate SAM that is supported by mercury-rectifies current. The precursor to the SAM on silver (or gold) was bis(20-(2-((2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-diylidene)dimalonitrile))decyl)) disulfide and that for the SAM on mercury was HS(CH(2))(n-1)CH(3) (n = 14, 16, 18). The electrical properties of the junctions were characterized by current-voltage measurements. The ratio of the conductivity of the junction in the forward bias (Hg cathodic) to that in the reverse bias (Hg anodic), at a potential of 1 V, was 9 +/- 2 when the SAM on mercury was derived from HS(CH(2))(15)CH(3). The ratio of the conductivity in the forward bias to that in the reverse bias increased with decreasing chain length of the alkanethiol used to form the SAM on mercury. These results demonstrate that a single redox center asymmetrically placed in a metal-insulator-metal junction can cause the rectification of current and indicate that a fixed dipole in the insulating region of a metal-insulator-metal junction is not required for rectification.     

Controlled alignment of molecular diodes via ionic assembly of cationic donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor molecules on anionic surfaces

Alignment of cationic donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor molecules via metathesis with a self-assembled monolayer formed from sodium 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate results in ultra-thin rectifying Au-S-(CH2)3SO3-/A+-pi-D structures which exhibit optimum current ratios of 450 at +/-1 V for N-methyl-5-(4-dibutylaminobenzylidene)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolinium.     

Electrical rectification by monolayers of three molecules

Rectification, i.e. asymmetrical electrical conduction by a Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer of dicyano{4-[1-cyano-2-(1-hexadecylquinolin-1-ium-4-yl)vinyl]phenyl} methanide ( 1 ), occurs between both Al and Au electrodes: this rectification arises from the asymmetry of the molecule, and the interplay between the zwitterionic ground state D⁺-π-A⁻ and the less dissociated first electronic excited state D⁰-π-A⁰. Two more monolayer rectifiers have been found: 1-butyl-2,6-bis{2-[4-(dibutylamino)phenyl] vinyl}pyridin-1-ium iodide ( 2 ) is an interionic rectifier with back charge transfer between the iodide ion and the pyridinium ring. 1a-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-1aH-1a-aza-1(2)a-homo(C₆₀-I_h)[5,6]fullerene ( 3 ) is a moderate rectifier, with a rectification ratio of 2.     

Electron transport through thin organic films in metal--insulator--metal junctions based on self-assembled monolayers.

This paper describes an experimentally simple system for measuring rates of electron transport across organic thin films having a range of molecular structures. The system uses a metal--insulator--metal junction based on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs); it is particularly easy to assemble. The junction consists of a SAM supported on a silver film (Ag-SAM(1)) in contact with a second SAM supported on the surface of a drop of mercury (Hg-SAM(2))--that is, a Ag-SAM(1)SAM(2)-Hg junction. SAM(1) and SAM(2) can be derived from the same or different thiols. The current that flowed across junctions with SAMs of aliphatic thiols or aromatic thiols on Ag and a SAM of hexadecane thiol on Hg depended both on the molecular structure and on the thickness of the SAM on Ag: the current density at a bias of 0.5 V ranged from 2 x 10(-10) A/cm(2) for HS(CH(2))(15)CH(3) on Ag to 1 x 10(-6) A/cm(2) for HS(CH(2))(7)CH(3) on Ag, and from 3 x 10(-6) A/cm(2) for HS(Ph)(3)H (Ph = 1,4-C(6)H(4)) on Ag to 7 x 10(-4) A/cm(2) for HSPhH on Ag. The current density increased roughly linearly with the area of contact between SAM(1) and SAM(2), and it was not different between Ag films that were 100 or 200 nm thick. The current--voltage curves were symmetrical around V = 0. The current density decreased with increasing distance between the electrodes according to the relation I = I(0)e(-beta d(Ag,Hg)), where d(Ag,Hg) is the distance between the electrodes, and beta is the structure-dependent attenuation factor for the molecules making up SAM(1). At an applied potential of 0.5 V, beta was 0.87 +/- 0.1 A(-1) for alkanethiols, 0.61 +/- 0.1 A(-1) for oligophenylene thiols, and 0.67 +/- 0.1 A(-1) for benzylic derivatives of oligophenylene thiols. The values of beta did not depend significantly on applied potential over the range of 0.1 to 1 V. These junctions provide a test bed with which to screen the intrinsic electrical properties of SAMs made up of molecules with different structures; information obtained using these junctions will be useful in correlating molecular structure and rates of electron transport.     

Elastic and inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy of a new rectifying monolayer

Rectification of electrical current was observed in a Langmuir-Schaefer monolayer of fullerene-bis[ethylthio-tetrakis(3,4-dibutyl-2-thiophene-5-ethenyl)-5-bromo-3,4-dibutyl-2-thiophene] malonate, Au electrodes at room temperature (there are two regimes of asymmetry, at lower bias, i.e., between 0 and +/-2 V, and at higher bias), and also between Pb and Al electrodes at 4.2 K. The latter experiment was coupled with second harmonic detection of the second derivative of the current with respect to voltage (d2I/dV2). The d2I/dV2 spectrum shows intramolecular vibrations, and also two antisymmetric broad bands, centered at +/-0.65 V, due to resonant electron tunneling between the Fermi level(s) of the electrodes and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the molecule.     

Self-assembled monolayer of organic iodine on a Au surface for attachment of redox-active metal clusters

The attachment of a bifunctional iodo-organo-phosphinate compound to gold (Au) surfaces via chemisorption of the iodine atom is described and used to chelate a redox-active metal cluster via the phosphinate group. XPS, AFM, and electrochemical measurements show that (4-iodo-phenyl)phenyl phosphinic acid (IPPA) forms a tightly bound self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on Au surfaces. The surface coverage of an IPPA monolayer on Au was quantified by an electrochemical method and found to be 0.40 +/- 0.03 nmol/cm2, roughly corresponding to 0.4 monolayers. We show that the Au/IPPA SAM, but not the underivatized Au, adsorbs Mn4O4(Ph2PO2)6 from solution by a phosphinate exchange reaction to yield Au/IPPA/Mn4O4(Ph2PO2)5 SAM. The resulting SAM is firmly bound and not removed by sonication, as confirmed by manganese XPS (Mn 2p1/2) and by AFM. Electrochemistry confirms that Mn4O4(Ph2PO2)6 is anchored on the Au/IPPA surface and that redox chemistry can be mediated between the electrode and the surface-attached complex. Mn4O4(Ph2PO2)6 contains the reactive Mn4O46+ cubane core, a redox-active bioinspired catalyst.     

Microelectrochemical modulation of micropatterned cellular environments

Patterned cell cultures obtained by microcontact printing have been modified in situ by a microelectrochemical technique. It relies on lifting cell-repellent properties of oligo(ethylene glycol)-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) by Br2, which is produced locally by an ultramicroelectrode of a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM). After Br2 treatment the SAM shows increased permeability and terminal hydrophobicity as characterized by SECM approach curves and contact angle measurements, respectively. Polarization-modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopic (PM FTIRRAS) studies on macroscopic samples show that the Br2 treatment removes the oligo(ethelyene glycol) part of the monolayer within a second time scale while the alkyl part of the SAM degrades with a much slower rate. The lateral extension of the modification can be limited because heterogeneous electron transfer from the gold support destroys part of the electrogenerated Br2 once the monolayer is locally damaged in a SECM feedback configuration. This effect has been reproduced and analyzed by exposing SAM-modified samples to Br2 in the galvanic cell Au|SAM|5 microM Br2 + 0.1 M Na2SO4||10 microM KBr + 0.1 M Na2SO4|Au followed by an PM FTIRRAS characterization of the changes in the monolayer system.     

Conformations and charge transport characteristics of biphenyldithiol self-assembled-monolayer molecular electronic devices: a multiscale computational study

We report a computational study of conformations and charge transport characteristics of biphenyldithiol (BPDT) monolayers in the (sqrt.3 x sqrt.3)R30 degrees packing ratio sandwiched between Au(111) electrodes. From force-field molecular-dynamics and annealing simulations of BPDT self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with up to 100 molecules on a Au(111) substrate, we identify an energetically favorable herringbone-type SAM packing configuration and a less-stable parallel packing configuration. Both SAMs are described by the (2sqrt.3 x sqrt.3)R30 degrees unit cell including two molecules. With subsequent density-functional theory calculations of one unit cell of the (i) herringbone SAM with the molecular tilt angle theta approximately 15 degrees , (ii) herringbone SAM with theta approximately 30 degrees , and (iii) parallel SAM with theta approximately 30 degrees, we confirm that the herringbone packing configuration is more stable than the parallel one but find that the energy variation with respect to the molecule tilting within the herringbone packing is very small. Next, by capping these SAMs with the top Au(111) electrode, we prepare three molecular electronic device models and calculate their coherent charge transport properties within the matrix Green's function approach. Current-voltage (I-V) curves are then obtained via the Landauer-Buttiker formula. We find that at low-bias voltages (|V| < or = 0.2 V) the I-V characteristics of models (ii) and (iii) are similar and the current in model (i) is smaller than that in (ii) and (iii). On the other hand, at higher-bias voltages (|V| > or 0.5 V), the I-V characteristics of the three models show noticeable differences due to different phenyl band structures. We thus conclude that the BPDT SAM I-V characteristics in the low-bias voltage region are mainly determined by the -Au [corrected] interaction within the individual molecule-electrode contact, while both intramolecular conformation and intermolecular interaction can affect the BPDT SAM I-V characteristics in the high-bias voltage region.     

Synthesis and redox behavior of biferrocenyl-functionalized ruthenium(II) terpyridine gold clusters

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterizations of ferrocene- and biferrocene-functionalized terpyridine octanethiolate monolayer-protected clusters were investigated and reported. The electrochemical measurements of Ru2+ coordinated with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine complexes were dominated by the Ru2+/Ru3+ redox couple (E(1/2) at approximately 1.3 V), Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) redox couples (E(1/2) from approximately 0.6 to approximately 0.9 V), and terpy/terpy-/terpy2- redox couples (E(1/)(2) at ca. -1.2 and ca. -1.4 V). The substantial appreciable variations detected in the Ru2+/Ru3+ and Fe2+/Fe3+ oxidation potentials indicate that there is an interaction between the Ru2+ and Fe2+ metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ metal center with 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and 4'-biferrocenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine leads to an intense 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] --> 1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition in the visible region. The 1[(d(pi)Fe)6] -->1[d(pi)Fe)5(pi*terpyRu)1] transition observed at approximately 510 nm revealed that there was a qualitative electronic coupling between metal centers. The coordination of the Ru2+ transition metal center lowers the energy of the pi*terpy orbitals, causing this transition.     

Scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy studies of 4-methyl- 4'-(n-mercaptoalkyl)biphenyls on Au(111)-(1x1).

4-methyl-4'-(n-mercaptoalkyl)biphenyl (CH3-C6H4-C6H4-(CH2)n-SH, n=3-6, BPn) monolayers assembled on Au(111)-(1x1) in 1,3,5,-trimethylbenzene (TMB) at various temperatures are studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS). High resolution STM images reveal that BP3 and BP5 form a (sqrt 3x2sqrt 3) repeating motif superimposed on a temperature-dependent Moire pattern. BP4 and BP6 adlayers are characterized by a coexisting (2sqrt 3x5sqrt 3) majority phase and a temperature-dependent (3xpsqrt 3) minority phase. Assembly at 60 degrees C or 90 degrees C leads to p=5. Compression of the adlayer was found at higher temperatures. Combined with high-resolution structure experiments, the electronic characteristics of BP3 and BP4 self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were studied by monitoring current-distance (iT-Deltaz) and current-voltage (iT-Ebias) characteristics in TMB employing a gold STM tip|BPn|Au(111)-(1x1) configuration. The semilogarithmic (iT-Deltaz) plots yielded three linear regions in the range 10 pA相似文献   

Electrochemical metal deposition on top of an organic monolayer

Electrochemical deposition of metals (platinum or gold) only on top of an organothiolate, 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDMT) or hexanedithiol (HDT), self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a Au(111) substrate was achieved by electrochemical reduction of PtCl(4)(2-) or AuCl(4)(-) ion, which was preadsorbed on one free thiol end group of the dithiol SAM formed on a Au surface, in a metal-ion-free sulfuric acid solution at potentials more negative than the reduction potential of the metal ion. Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) measurement after the reduction of preadsorbed PtCl(4)(2-) ion on BDMT/Au(111) electrode showed the presence of Pt not underneath but on top of the BDMT SAM. After a negative potential scan of the Pt/BDMT/Au(111) electrode to -1.30 V in 0.1 M KOH solution, a typical cyclic voltammogram of a clean Au(111) electrode was obtained, showing that the BDMT SAM with a Pt layer was reductively desorbed. These results proved that a Pt-BDMT SAM-Au substrate sandwich structure without a short circuit between the two metals was successfully constructed by this technique. Furthermore, a decanethiol (DT) monolayer was constructed on a Au layer, which was formed by the reduction of preadsorbed AuCl(4)(-) ion on HDT/Au(111) electrode. The formation of DT/Au/HDT/Au(111) structure was confirmed as two cathodic peaks corresponding to reductive desorption of DT from Au on top of the HDT/Au(111) at -0.97 V and that of Au/ HDT from Au(111) at -1.12 V were observed when potential was scanned negatively to -1.35 V.     

Electrochemically triggered Michael addition on the self-assembly of 4-thiouracil: generation of surface-confined redox mediator and electrocatalysis

Generation of a surface-confined redox mediator (RM) by an electrochemically triggered Michael addition reaction and the electrocatalytic properties of the mediator are described. Electrogenerated o-quinone undergoes Michael addition reaction with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 4-thiouracil (4-TU) on a gold (Au) electrode and yields a surface-confined RM, 1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-mercapto-1H-pyrimidin-2-one (DPTU). The Michael addition reaction depends on the electrolysis potential and time, solution pH, and concentration of catechol (CA) used in the reaction. The redox mediator, DPTU, exhibits reversible redox response, characterstic of a surface-confined species at approximately 0.22 V in neutral pH. The anodic peak potential of DPTU shifts by 58+/-2 mV while changing the solution pH by one unit, suggesting that protons and electrons taking part in the redox reaction are in the ratio of 1:1. The apparent rate constant (ksapp) for the heterogeneous electron-transfer reaction of the RM was determined to be 114+/-5 s-1. The surface coverage (Gamma) of DPTU on the electrode surface was 8.2+/-0.1x10(-12) mol/cm2. DPTU shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) with activation overpotential, which is approximately 600 mV lower than that observed at the unmodified Au electrode. The dipositive cations in the supporting electrolyte solution amplify the electrocatalytic activity of DPTU. A 2.5-fold enhancement in the catalytic current was observed in the presence of Ca2+ or Ba2+ ions. The sensitivity of the electrode toward NADH in the presence and absence of Ca2+ ions was 0.094+/-0.011 and 0.04+/-0.0071 nA cm-2 nM-1, respectively. A linear increase in the catalytic current was obtained up to the concentration of 0.8 mM, and the electrode can detect amperometrically as low as 25 nM of NADH in neutral pH.     

Dynamics of the interaction of vapor-deposited copper with alkanethiolate monolayers: bond insertion, complexation, and penetration pathways

We have investigated the interaction of vapor-deposited copper with -CH3, -OH, -OCH3, -COOH, and -CO2CH3 terminated alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) adsorbed on polycrystalline Au using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations. For -OH, -COOH, and -CO2CH3 terminated SAMs measurements indicate that for all copper coverages there is a competition between Cu atom bond insertion into C-O bonds, stabilization at the SAM/vacuum interface, and penetration to the Au/S interface. In contrast, on a -OCH3 terminated SAM Cu only weakly interacts with the methoxy group and penetrates to the Au substrate, while for a -CH3 terminated SAM deposited copper only penetrates to the Au/S interface. The insertion of copper into C-O terminal group bonds is an activated process. We estimate that the barriers for Cu insertion are 55 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1) for the ester, 50 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1) for the acid, and 55 +/- 5 kJ mol(-1) for the hydroxyl terminated SAMs. The activation barrier for the copper insertion is much higher for the -OCH3 SAM. Copper atoms with energies lower than the activation barrier partition between complexation (weak interaction) with the terminal groups and penetration through the monolayer to the Au/S interface. Weakly stabilized copper atoms at the SAM/vacuum interface slowly penetrate through the monolayer. In contrast to the case of Al deposition, C-O bond insertion is favored over C=O, C-H, and C-C bond insertion.     

Electrochemical characterizations of nickel deposition on aromatic dithiol monolayers on gold electrodes

The electronic properties of pristine and cross-linked (CL) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of [1,1';4',1' '-terphenyl]-4,4' '-dimethanethiol (TPDMT) on Au were studied by electrochemical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. In addition, nickel deposition onto the TPDMT and CL-TPDMT substrates was investigated. In all cases, the TPDMT and CL-TPDMT films were found to be insulators, which effectively blocked the ionic permeation of electrolyte, preventing direct access of ions to the Au electrode. At the same time, CL-TPDMT is a better electric insulator than the pristine TPDMT SAM. The top Ni layer in the Ni/CL-TPDMT/Au arrangement was electrically isolated from the Au substrate, and no short circuits occurred. This layer was found to be conductive and relatively stable in the broad potential range in the electrolyte solution.