Formation of organic monolayers on silicon via gas-phase photochemical reactions

A new method for the formation of molecular monolayers on silicon surfaces utilizing gas-phase photochemical reactions is reported. Hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surfaces were exposed to various gas-phase molecules (hexene, benzaldehyde, and allylamine) and irradiated with ultraviolet light from a mercury lamp. The surfaces were studied with in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy. The generation of gas-phase radicals was found to be the initiator for organic monolayer formation via the abstraction of hydrogen from the H/Si(111) surface. Monolayer growth can occur through either a radical chain reaction mechanism or through direct radical attachment to the silicon dangling bonds.     

Comparative study on reactions and self-directed growth mechanisms of styrene molecules on H-terminated Si(111) and Si(100): combining quantum chemistry and molecular mechanics simulations

A comparative study on mechanisms of radical initiated self-directed growth of styrene molecules on the H-terminated Si(111) and Si(100) has been carried out by using quantum chemical and molecular mechanics methods. Several possible H-abstraction pathways through formations of transition states containing five-, six-, and even eight-membered ring structures are investigated with the aid of surface cluster models and density functional theory calculations. It has been demonstrated by employing periodic surface models and molecular mechanics simulations that the surface pattern and intermolecular interactions between phenyl groups play important roles in the self-directed growth processes. The formation of cluster-shaped aggregation of styrene molecules on H-Si(111) results from the undirectional chain reactions, due to the isotropic hexagonal arrangement of surface sites. On the contrary, the anisotropic style of H-Si(100) induces a strong directional preference for H-abstractions, following an order of the inter Si-Si dimer > the intra Si-Si dimer > the inter Si-Si dimer row. The one-dimensionally ordered structures of single and double lines along the Si-Si dimer row are thus formed on H-Si(100). The self-directed growths of styrene molecules on both H-Si(111) and H-Si(100) are revealed to be stage-dependent.     

Density functional theory study of one-dimensional growth of styrene on the hydrogen-terminated Si(001)-(3 x 1) surface

Recent experimental work has shown that the addition of styrene molecules to hydrogen-terminated Si(001) surfaces leads to the formation of one-dimensional molecular structures through a radical-initiated surface chain reaction mechanism. These nanometric structures are observed to be directed parallel to the dimer rows on the H-Si(001)-(2 x 1) surface and perpendicular to the same rows on H-Si(001)-(3 x 1). Using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we have studied the initial steps of the radical chain mechanism on the H-Si(001)-(3 x 1) surface and compared them to analogous results for H-Si(001)-(2 x 1). On the H-Si(001)-(3 x 1) surface, one of the crucial steps of the surface chain reaction, namely, the abstraction of a H atom from a nearby surface hydride unit, is found to have a somewhat smaller activation energy in the direction perpendicular to the dimer rows (H abstraction from the nearest dihydride site) than along the rows (H abstraction from a neighboring dimer). Additionally, due to the steric repulsion between the styrene molecules and the SiH2 subunits, growth along the dimer rows is not thermodynamically favorable on the (3 x 1) surface. On the other hand, due to the absence of the SiH2 subunits, growth parallel to the Si dimer rows becomes favored on the H-Si(001)-(2 x 1) surface.     

Competing mechanisms in the optically activated functionalization of the hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surface

Recent experiments have shown that organic monolayers on silicon surfaces can be formed through the optically activated surface reaction of H-terminated Si surfaces with terminally unsaturated organic molecules (Eves et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 14318; Sun et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 2514). Possible mechanisms for the formation of this monolayer involve the abstraction of a H atom either at the same attachment site of the molecule (Path A) or from a neighboring site (Path B). Using periodic Density Functional Theory calculations together with an efficient method for finding reaction pathways, we examine both optically activated reaction mechanisms for an alkene and an aldehyde reacting with H-Si(111). Our results show that while Path A is energetically more favorable its significant barrier is likely to limit its viability. Path B on the other hand encounters a much lower H atom abstraction barrier and appears to be more viable.     

Formation of uniform ferrocenyl-terminated monolayer covalently bonded to Si using reaction of hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surface with vinylferrocene/n-decane solution by visible-light excitation

Electrochemically active self-assembled monolayers (SAM) have been successfully fabricated with atomic-scale uniformity on a silicon (Si)(111) surface by immobilizing vinylferrocene (VFC) molecules through Si-C covalent bonds. The reaction of VFC with the hydrogen-terminated Si (H-Si)(111) surface was photochemically promoted by irradiation of visible light on a H-Si(111) substrate immersed in n-decane solution of VFC. We found that aggregation and polymerization of VFC was avoided when n-decane was used as a solvent. Voltammetric quantification revealed that the surface density of ferrocenyl groups was 1.4×10(-10) mol cm(-2), i.e., 11% in substitution rate of Si-H bond. VFC-SAMs were then formed by the optimized preparation method on n-type and p-type Si wafers. VFC-SAM on n-type Si showed positive photo-responsivity, while VFC-SAM on p-type Si showed negative photo-responsivity.     

Ab initio simulation of the grafting of phenylacetylene on hydrogenated surfaces of crystalline silicon catalyzed by a Lewis acid

Car-Parrinello simulations have been carried out to identify the grafting mechanism of phenylacetylene, a prototypical alkyne, on the hydrogenated surfaces of crystalline silicon, catalyzed by a Lewis acid (AlCl3). To this purpose, we have made use of a new technique, metadynamics, devised recently to deal with complex chemical reactions in first principles simulations. The reaction mechanism, leading to a styrenyl-terminated surface, turns out to be equivalent to the corresponding gas-phase hydrosilylation reaction by silanes that we have identified in a previous work. The activation energies for the surface reactions (0.43, 0.42, 0.35 eV, for H-Si(111), H-Si(100)2 x 1, and H-Si(100)1 x 1, respectively) are very close to that of the corresponding gas-phase reaction (0.37 eV). The estimated activation free energy at room temperature is sufficiently low for the grafting reaction to be viable at normal conditions and at low coverage on the crystalline silicon surfaces, as already well documented to occur on the surface of porous silicon. However, the conformation of the transition state shadows a large area of the surface, which might contribute to making the grafting process self-limiting.     

Mechanism of the hydrosilylation reaction of alkenes at porous silicon: experimental and computational deuterium labeling studies

The mechanism of the formation of Si-C bonded monolayers on silicon by reaction of 1-alkenes with hydrogen-terminated porous silicon surfaces has been studied by both experimental and computational means. We propose that monolayer formation occurs via the same radical chain process as at single-crystal surfaces: a silyl radical attacks the 1-alkene to form both the Si-C bond and a radical center on the beta-carbon atom. This carbon radical may then abstract a hydrogen atom from a neighboring Si-H bond to propagate the chain. Highly deuterated porous silicon and FTIR spectroscopy were used to provide evidence for this mechanism by identifying the IR bands associated with the C-D bond formed in the proposed propagation step. Deuterated porous silicon surfaces formed by galvanostatic etching in 48% DF/D2O:EtOD (1:1) electrolytes showed a 30% greater density of Si-D sites on the surface than Si-H sites on hydrogen-terminated porous silicon surfaces prepared in the equivalent H-electrolyte. The thermal reaction of undec-1-ene and the Lewis acid catalyzed reaction of styrene on a deuterated surface both resulted in alkylated surfaces with the same C-C and C-H vibrational features as formed in the corresponding reactions at a hydrogen-terminated surface. However, a broad band around 2100 cm(-1) was observed upon alkylating the deuterated surfaces. Ab initio and density functional theory calculations on small molecule models showed that the integrated absorbance of this band was comparable to the intensity expected for the C-D stretches predicted by the chain mechanism. The calculations also indicate that there is substantial interaction between the hydrogen atoms on the beta-carbons and the hydrogen atoms on the Si(111)-H surface. These broad 2100 cm(-1) features are therefore assigned to C-D bands arising from the involvement of surface D atoms in the hydrosilylation reactions, while the line broadening can be explained partly by interaction with neighboring surface atoms/groups.     

Linear nanostructure formation of aldehydes by self-directed growth on hydrogen-terminated silicon(100)

The self-directed growth of organic molecules on silicon surfaces allows for the rapid, parallel production of hybrid organic-silicon nanostructures. In this work, the formation of benzaldehyde- and acetaldehyde-derived nanostructures on hydrogen-terminated H-Si(100)-2x1 surface is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum and by quantum mechanical methods. The reaction is a radical-mediated process that binds the aldehydes, through a strong Si-O covalent bond, to the surface. The aldehyde nanostructures are generally composed of double lines of molecules. Two mechanisms that lead to double line growth are elucidated.     

Infrared spectroscopic investigation of the reaction of hydrogen-terminated, (111)-oriented, silicon surfaces with liquid methanol

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and first principles calculations have been used to investigate the reaction of atomically smooth, hydrogen-terminated Si(111) (H-Si) surfaces with anhydrous liquid methanol. After 10 min of reaction at room temperature, a sharp absorbance feature was apparent at approximately 1080 cm(-1) that was polarized normal to the surface plane. Previous reports have identified this mode as a Si-O-C stretch; however, the first principles calculations, presented in this work, indicate that this mode is a combination of an O-C stretch with a CH3 rock. At longer reaction times, the intensity of the Si-H stretching mode decreased, while peaks attributable to the O-C coupled stretch and the CH3 stretching modes, respectively, increased in intensity. Spectra of H-Si(111) surfaces that had reacted with CD3OD showed the appearance of Si-D signals polarized normal to the surface as well as the appearance of vibrations indicative of Si-OCD3 surface species. The data are consistent with two surface reactions occurring in parallel, involving (a) chemical attack of hydrogen-terminated Si(111) terraces by CH3OH, forming Si-OCH3 moieties having their Si-O bond oriented normal to the Si(111) surface and (b) transfer of the acidic hydrogen of the methanol to the silicon surface, either through a direct H-to-D exchange mechanism or through a mechanism involving chemical step-flow etching of Si-H step sites.     

硅表面有机单分子膜的新表征方法──界面微分电容测量法

提出一种表征硅表面有机单分子膜的新方法界面微分电容测量法.通过对新制备的H-Si(111)表面和一系列烯烃分子修饰的硅表面/电解液界面的微分电容的研究,建立了硅表面有机膜结构和性质与界面电容之间的联系.实践证明这是一个简便、快速和有效的实验技术,为硅表面化学修饰与功能化研究提供了一个非常有力的工具.     

Organic nanostructures on hydrogen-terminated silicon report on electric field modulation of dangling bond charge state

We pursue dynamic charge and occupancy modulation of silicon dangling bond sites on H-Si(100)-2 × 1 with a biased scanning tunneling microscope tip and demonstrate that the reactivity and mechanism of product formation of cyclobutylmethylketone (CBMK) on the surface at the active sites may be thus spatially regulated. Reactivity is observed to be dependent on the polarity between tip and surface while the area over which reactivity modulation is established scales according to the dopant concentration in the sample. We account for these observations with examination of the competition kinetics applicable to the CBMK/H-Si reaction and determine how said kinetics are affected by the charge state of DB sites associated with reaction initiation and propagation. Our experiments demonstrate a new paradigm in lithographic control of a self-assembly process on H-Si and reveal a variant to the well-known radical mediated chain reaction chemistry applicable to the H-Si surface where self-assembly is initiated with dative bond formation between the molecule and a DB site.     

烯烃分子在氢终止Si(100)-2×1表面的自由基链反应

应用密度泛函理论(DFT)和从头计算分子动力学方法(ab initio MD)研究了不饱和烯烃在氢终止的Si(100)-2×1表面的自由基链反应. 计算表明, 自由基链反应中重要的一步是烷烃链自由基的氢抽提过程, 硅表面上邻近位置(the nearest neighbor, NN)的氢抽提比次邻近位置(the next-nearest neighbor, NNN)的氢抽提有一稍低的能垒. 从头算分子动力学显示, 过渡态的烷烃自由基与氢终止Si(100)-2×1表面上的氢原子能够很容易形成C—H键, 完成一个氢抽提过程, 同时在硅表面产生下一个孤电子, 继续引发链反应.     

Surface reaction of alkynes and alkenes with H-Si(111): a density functional theory study

Recent experiments on the addition of alkene and alkyne molecules to H-terminated silicon surfaces have provided evidence for a surface chain reaction initiated at isolated Si dangling bonds and involving an intermediate carbon radical state, which, after abstraction of a hydrogen atom from a neighboring Si-H unit, transforms into a stable adsorbed species plus a new Si dangling bond. Using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations, together with an efficient method for determining reaction pathways, we have studied the initial steps of this chain reaction for a few different terminal alkynes and alkenes interacting with an isolated Si dangling bond on an otherwise H-saturated Si(111) surface. Calculated minimum energy pathways (MEPs) indicate that the chain mechanism is viable in the case of C(2)H(2), whereas for C(2)H(4) the stabilization of the intermediate state is so small and the barrier for H-abstraction so (relatively) large that the molecule is more likely to desorb than to form a stable adsorbed species. For phenylacetylene and styrene, stabilization of the intermediate state and decrease of the H-abstraction barrier take place. While a stable adsorbed species exists in both cases, the overall heat of adsorption is larger for the alkyne molecules.     

Thin films derived from giant, tripod-shaped oligophenylenes end-capped with triallylsilyl groups on hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surfaces

Monolayers of giant, tripod-shaped molecules 1 with each tripod leg composed of seven phenylene units end-capped with a triallylsilyl group were prepared on hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces (H-Si(111)) via thermally induced surface hydrosilylation. The films were characterized by ellipsometry, contact-angle goniometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The measured ellipsometric thickness of 24 Angstrom of the films suggests anchoring of 1 on the substrate surface with a tripod orientation of high coverage. By measuring the contact angle hysteresis of a series of probe liquids with systematically varied sizes, the molecular pores present on the films consisting of the intercalated molecules of 1 are similar to the cross sectional areas of glycerol and decalin of 0.32-0.49 nm(2). Finally, as evidenced by XPS, excellent yields ( approximately 90%) of Suzuki coupling reactions with arylboronic acid derivatives on the films was achieved, suggesting that the desired tripod orientation of such giant molecules as 1 helps to eliminate the steric hindrance for the reaction.     

Kinetic control of the photochemical reactivity of hydrogen-terminated silicon with bifunctional molecules

Carboxy-terminated crystalline silicon surfaces are of fundamental importance for biochip fabrication because of their reactivity toward biological macromolecules. To explore the feasibility of direct attachment of bifunctional molecules (e.g., omega-alkenoic acids) to hydrogen-terminated silicon crystal (H-Si) via Si-C linkages, we have investigated the photoreactivities of the alkene (-CH=CH(2)) and carboxy (-COOH) terminal groups of 1-dodecene, undecanoic acid, and undecylenic acid toward H-Si. The alkene terminus was found to react substantially faster than the carboxy terminus under UV irradiation (at 350 nm). By controlling the reaction time, high-quality carboxy-terminated monolayers, comparable to those formed by ester hydrolysis, can be obtained from a direct, one-step photochemical reaction between H-Si and undecylenic acid.     

Binding mechanisms of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate on si(111)-7 x 7 -- effect of substitution groups

The interaction of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate with Si(111)-7 x 7 has been investigated using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). While methacrylic acid chemisorbs dissociatively through O-H bond cleavage, methyl methacrylate is covalently attached to the silicon surface via a [4+2] cycloaddition. The different reaction pathways of these two compounds on Si(111)-7 x 7 demonstrate that the substitution groups play an important role in determining the reaction channels for multifunctional molecules, leading to the desired flexibility in the organic modification of silicon surfaces.     

Highly stable organic monolayers for reacting silicon with further functionalities: the effect of the C-C bond nearest the silicon surface

Crystalline Si(111) surfaces have been alkylated in a two-step chlorination/alkylation process using various organic molecules having similar backbones but differing in their C-C bond closest to the silicon surface (i.e., C-C vs C=C vs C[triple bond]C bonds). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) data show that functionalization of silicon surfaces with propenyl magnesium bromide (CH3-CH=CH-MgBr) organic molecules gives nearly full coverage of the silicon atop sites, as on methyl- and propynyl-terminated silicon surfaces. Propenyl-terminated silicon surface shows less surface oxidation and is more robust against solvent attacks when compared to methyl- and propynyl-terminated silicon surfaces. We also show a secondary functionalization process of propenyl-terminated silicon surface with 4'-[3-Trifluoromethyl-3H-diazirin-3-yl]-benzoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester [TDBA-OSu] cross-linker. The Si-CH=CH-CH3 surfaces thus offer a means of attaching a variety of chemical moieties to a silicon surface through a short linking group, enabling applications in molecular electronics, energy conversion, catalysis, and sensing.     

First reaction of a bare silicon surface with acid chlorides and a one-step preparation of acid chloride terminated monolayers on scribed silicon

Methyl-terminated and acyl chloride terminated monolayers are produced when silicon is scribed under mono- and diacid chlorides, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the reaction between a bare silicon surface and acid chlorides. This reaction takes place by wetting the silicon surface in the air with the acid chloride and scribing. Scribing activates the silicon surface by removing its passivation layer. We propose that scribed silicon abstracts chlorine from an acid chloride to form an Si-Cl bond and that the resulting acyl radical diffuses back to the surface to condense with the surface and form an alkyl monolayer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirms the presence of chlorine and shows a steady increase in the amount of carbon with increasing alkyl chain lengths of the acid chlorides. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry shows SiCl(+) species and a steady increase in representative hydrocarbon fragments with increasing alkyl chain lengths of the acid chlorides. XPS indicates that diacid chlorides react primarily at one of their ends to create acyl chloride terminated surfaces in a single step. The resulting surfaces are shown to react with various amines (piperazine, morpholine, and octylamine) and a protein. Calculations at Hartree-Fock and density functional theory levels are consistent with the proposed mechanism.     

Sonochemical Reaction of Bifunctional Molecules on Silicon (111) Hydride Surface

While the sonochemical grafting of molecules on silicon hydride surface to form stable Si–C bond via hydrosilylation has been previously described, the susceptibility towards nucleophilic functional groups during the sonochemical reaction process remains unclear. In this work, a competitive study between a well-established thermal reaction and sonochemical reaction of nucleophilic molecules (cyclopropylamine and 3-Butyn-1-ol) was performed on p-type silicon hydride (111) surfaces. The nature of surface grafting from these reactions was examined through contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cyclopropylamine, being a sensitive radical clock, did not experience any ring-opening events. This suggested that either the Si–H may not have undergone homolysis as reported previously under sonochemical reaction or that the interaction to the surface hydride via a lone-pair electron coordination bond was reversible during the process. On the other hand, silicon back-bond breakage and subsequent surface roughening were observed for 3-Butyn-1-ol at high-temperature grafting (≈150 °C). Interestingly, the sonochemical reaction did not produce appreciable topographical changes to surfaces at the nano scale and the further XPS analysis may suggest Si–C formation. This indicated that while a sonochemical reaction may be indifferent towards nucleophilic groups, the surface was more reactive towards unsaturated carbons. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first attempt at elucidating the underlying reactivity mechanisms of nucleophilic groups and unsaturated carbon bonds during sonochemical reaction of silicon hydride surfaces.     

Electrochemically programmed, spatially selective biofunctionalization of silicon wires

A method for the spatially selective biofunctionalization of silicon micro- and nanostructures is reported, and results are presented for both single-crystal silicon (111) or (100) surfaces. An electroactive monolayer of hydroquinone was formed on the surface of H-terminated silicon working electrodes via an olefin reaction with UV-generated surface radicals. Molecules presenting either cyclopentadiene or a thiol group can be immobilized onto the regions where the hydroquinone has been oxidized. Molecular size and crystal orientation are evaluated as important factors that dictate the electrode stability in aqueous solution under anodic potentials. Monolayers composed of smaller molecules on (111) surfaces exhibit the highest packing density and are more effective in preventing anodic oxidation of the underlying substrate. Voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force and fluorescence microscopy are utilized to interrogate the kinetic rates of biofunctionalization, the extent of surface coverage, monolayer quality, and the spatial selectivity of the process.