Photoinduced deprotection and ZnO patterning of hydroxyl-terminated siloxane-based monolayers

Trimethoxy-[11-(2-nitrobenzyloxy)undecyl]silane (1) and trimethoxy-[17-(2-nitrobenzyloxy)heptadecyl]silane (2) have been used for the covalent assembly of siloxane-based photopatternable monolayers. Exposing the monolayers to UV light (312 +/- 10 nm) results in the generation of reactive hydroxyl-terminated monolayers without affecting the film quality. The new monolayers, deprotection chemistry, and the effect of photoinduced headgroup lift-off on the monolayer microstructure have been studied in detail by a full complement of physicochemical techniques, including optical (UV-vis) spectroscopy, ellipsometry, aqueous contact angle (CA) measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), synchrotron X-ray reflectivity (XRR), and atomic force microscopy (AFM and AFM-force spectroscopy). AFM-force spectroscopy was used to analyze hydrogen-bond interactions as a function of the nature of the solid-liquid interface. AFM-force spectroscopy indicates a hydrogen-bond energy for photodeprotected monolayers of 8.2 kJ mol(-1) (approximately 2 kcal mol(-1)). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that treatment of photopatterned monolayers with ZnEt2 solutions resulted in well-defined approximately 2 microm x 2 microm features of 10 A thick ZnO layers.     

Space-filling trialkoxysilane: synthesis and self-assembly into low-density monolayers

A novel space-filling trialkoxysilane derivative was synthesized using a two-step strategy from commercially available starting materials to produce the precursor for the formation of low-density self-assembled monolayers. Self-assembled monolayers of the synthesized compound were prepared on three different substrates (Si/SiO(2), glass and ITO) and were characterized using contact angle, ellipsometry and sum-frequency generation spectroscopy. Removal of the space-filling protecting group, (2-chlorophenyl)diphenyl methanol, yields a carboxy-terminated surface. Correspondingly, the contact angle and film thickness decrease and the SFG spectra clearly indicate an increase in gauche defect concentration characteristic of a low-density disordered monolayer.     

Covalent attachment of organic monolayers to silicon carbide surfaces

This work presents the first alkyl monolayers covalently bound on HF-treated silicon carbide surfaces (SiC) through thermal reaction with 1-alkenes. Treatment of SiC with diluted aqueous HF solutions removes the native oxide layer (SiO2) and provides a reactive hydroxyl-covered surface. Very hydrophobic methyl-terminated surfaces (water contact angle theta = 107 degrees ) are obtained on flat SiC, whereas attachment of omega-functionalized 1-alkenes also yields well-defined functionalized surfaces. Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements are used to characterize the monolayers and show their covalent attachment. The resulting surfaces are shown to be extremely stable under harsh acidic conditions (e.g., no change in theta after 4 h in 2 M HCl at 90 degrees C), while their stability in alkaline conditions (pH = 11, 60 degrees C) also supersedes that of analogous monolayers such as those on Au, Si, and SiO2. These results are very promising for applications involving functionalized silicon carbide.     

Perfecting imperfect "monolayers": removal of siloxane multilayers by CO2 snow treatment

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of N-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-4-hydroxybutyramide were prepared on silicon oxide on silicon (Si/SiO(2)). Initial silane adsorption and high-temperature annealing led to a stable base monolayer with many large over-lying islands of disordered multilayers as a result of the non-self-limited growth process. The disordered multilayers were hydrolyzed and subsequently removed by CO(2) snow treatment. The resulting films were one monolayer thick as measured by ellipsometry. Atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle analysis showed that the films were composed of monolayers with full and uniform surface coverage rather than nonuniform coverage by islands or patches of multilayers. Monolayers of octadecyltrichlorosilane were also prepared by multilayer removal via CO(2) treatment, showing the general applicability of the technique toward siloxane SAMs. We believe that CO(2) is an excellent solvent for weakly bound and hydrolyzed molecules that compose multilayers, and this ability to prepare near-perfect monolayer films from imperfect ones allows for less stringent formation conditions.     

Attachment of alkyltrichlorosilanes to the terminal 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl moiety of a self-assembled thiol monolayer on gold

The synthesis of 5-(6-mercaptohexyloxy)-1,3-dihydroxybenzene and the formation of a self-assembled monolayer on polycrystalline gold using this compound are described. Methyltrichlorosilane and (tridecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)trichlorosilane were attached to the 3,5-dihydroxyphenyl terminus of the monolayer. The modified surfaces were studied by contact angle measurement, XPS, and cyclic voltammetry. High contact angles of 119 degrees -128 degrees were observed for the semifluoroalkylsilyl-functionalized monolayer. These high contact angles were maintained after subjecting the surface to, e.g., boiling in water or heating in air to 300 degrees C. Characterization of the silane-modified monolayers by XPS indicated more than one layer of silane present at the top of the monolayer. The thickness was reduced after boiling the cross-linked monolayers in H(2)O, however, maintaining high contact angles. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed that the semifluoroalkylsilyl-functionalized surface showed a higher blocking capability and a higher electrochemical stability than the parent monolayer.     

Monolayer behavior of 1,2-dipalmitoylgalloylglycerol, a synthetic lipid with strong cohesive properties

Monolayers of 1,2-dipalmitoylgalloylglycerol (DPGG) were investigated at the air-water interface. The monolayers exhibit high rigidity which leads to the formation of surface tension gradients in the film. Transfer to solid substrate yields homogeneous Langmuir-Blodgett films with low surface roughness. Large numbers of aggregates were observed by Brewster angle microscopy and imaging ellipsometry at relatively high molecular areas. At all pressures, the DPGG molecules adopt conformations corresponding to low tilt angles. Constant area measurements result in a pressure increase as the film rearranges to maximize the intermolecular interactions. An optimal intermolecular distance required for the formation of a hydrogen-bond network between headgroups is proposed to explain the observed, highly cohesive monolayer behavior.     

Preparation of ultrathin polypyrrole films using an adhesion promoter

Adhesive ultrathin polypyrrole films were deposited on Si/SiO₂ substrates modified with the new adhesion promoter 11-(Pyrrol-1-yl Undecyl) TrichloroSilane (PUTS). The oxidation potential of PUTS in solution was determined electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry. Self-assembled monolayers of PUTS were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, contact angle measurements, ellipsometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Several oxidants for the deposition of pyrrole on adhesion promoter modified substrates were tested and a strong dependence on the obtained film morphology was found. It was possible to deposit chemically ultrathin polypyrrole films on insulating substrates.     

Ta2O5/Si薄膜界面结构及光催化活性

利用溶胶-凝胶法和旋转镀膜法在单晶Si(110)基底上制备了Ta2O5光催化剂薄膜. 薄膜颗粒的晶粒度和大小随着热处理温度的升高而增加. 利用扫描俄歇电子能谱(AES)的表面成分分析、深度剖析和线形分析技术研究了热处理温度对Ta2O5/Si 样品膜层和基底的界面化学状态和相互作用的影响规律. 研究表明, 在700 ℃以下热处理时, Ta2O5/Si薄膜界面处以扩散作用为主;在800 ℃高温热处理时,在界面扩散的同时也引发界面反应, 生成了SiO2物种, 界面扩散和界面反应会对薄膜和基底元素的化学价态发生影响. 在紫外光下降解水杨酸的光催化活性的研究表明, 在600 ℃下焙烧制备的Ta2O5/Si薄膜具有与TiO2/Si薄膜相当的光催化活性.     

室温下空气与金属铌和钽表面的相互作用

用XPS角分布法研究了铌和钽在室温下与干燥空气的相互作用.结果表明铌和钽表面生成了化学组成分别为Nb_2O_5和Ta_2O_5的氧化物,氧化膜内金属原子和氧原子呈混合状态,从而排除了这种相互作用仅仅是化学吸附的可能性.     

Mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) consisting of methoxy-tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated and alkyl-terminated dimethylchlorosilanes control the non-specific adsorption of proteins at oxidic surfaces

Monolayers from the newly synthesized compound methoxy-tri(ethylene glycol)-undecenyldimethylchlorosilane (CH3O(CH2CH2O)3(CH2)11Si(CH3)2Cl, MeO(EG)3C11DMS) and dodecyldimethylchlorosilane (DDMS), both pure and mixed, were prepared by self-assembly from organic solution in the presence of an organic base. The films obtained were characterized by advancing and receding contact angle measurements and ellipsometry to confirm the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The resulting data on the covalently attached dimethylsilanes were compared to known oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG)-terminated SAM systems based on terminal alkenes, thiolates or trihydrolyzable silanes. The composition of the mixed SAMs was found to depend directly and linearly on the composition of the silanization solution. Enhanced protein repellent properties were found for the SAMs using a variety of proteins, including the Ras Binding Domain (RBD), a protein with high relevance for cancer diagnostics. Roughly a RBD protein monolayer amount was adsorbed to silicon oxide surfaces silanized with DDMS or non-silanized silicon wafers, and in contrast, no RBD was adsorbed to surfaces silanized with MeO(EG)3C11DMS or to mixed monolayers consisting of DDMS and MeO(EG)3C11DMS if the content of OEG-silane overcame a critical content of X(EG) approximately 0.9.     

Electron transfer studies on cholesterol LB films assembled on thiophenol and 2-naphthalenethiol self-assembled monolayers

We have formed the cholesterol monolayer and multilayer LB films on the self-assembled monolayers of 2-naphthalenethiol (2-NT) and thiophenol (TP) and studied the electrochemical barrier properties of these composite films using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We have also characterized the cholesterol monolayer film using grazing angle FTIR, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cholesterol has a long hydrophobic steroid chain, which makes it a suitable candidate to assemble on the hydrophobic surfaces. We find that the highly hydrophobic surface formed by the self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of 2-NT and TP act as effective platforms for the fabrication of cholesterol monolayer and multilayer films. The STM studies show that the cholesterol monolayer films on 2-NT form striped patterns with a separation of 1.0 nm between them. The area per cholesterol molecule is observed to be 0.64 nm2 with a tilt angle of about 28.96 degrees from the surface normal. The electrochemical studies show a large increase in charge transfer resistance and lowering of interfacial capacitance due to the formation of the LB film of cholesterol. We have compared the behavior of this system with that of cholesterol monolayer and multilayers formed on the self-assembled monolayer of thiophenol.     

Optimizing the quality of monoreactive perfluoroalkylsilane-based self-assembled monolayers

Self-assembled monolayers (or SAMs) created from monoreactive perfluoroalkylsilanes by deposition from a toluene solution are investigated for the dependence of their quality on processing conditions. Surface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques are used to provide feedback on the processing conditions in which solution temperature, silane concentration, and reaction time are optimized to improve the quality of these SAMs. For these analyses, monolayers are formed at 20, 40, 60, or 80 °C from solutions containing between 0.5 and 5 mM perfluoroalkylsilane over a period of up to 5 h. Physically adsorbed molecules are removed from these surfaces by extraction to determine the quality of the covalently bound monolayer. Water contact angle measurements, spectroscopic ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively, are used in combination to assess the uniformity of the surface hydrophobicity, monolayer thickness, composition of the assembled perfluoroalkylsilane molecules, and topography of these monolayers. A comparison is also presented for two approaches to fill defects within these solvent extracted monolayers with more perfluoroalkylsilane molecules, aiming to improve the quality of these SAMs. A detailed XPS analysis is used to assess both the relative changes in density and average tilt of molecules within the monolayers as the process temperature is increased in increments from 20 to 80 °C. The observed differences in quality of the SAMs are attributed to temperature- and time-dependent organization and reactivity of the silane molecules. Although the assembly of these monoreactive perfluoroalkylsilanes is driven by thermodynamics, the quality of the monolayer is ultimately limited by the kinetics and mass transport during this assembly process. Lessons from these studies can be exploited for improving the quality of monolayers composed of other alkylsilane molecules that are covalently bound to the surfaces of oxides.     

Formation and structure of self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiolates on palladium

The adsorption of n-alkanethiols onto polycrystalline thin films of palladium containing a strong (111) texture produces well-organized, self-assembled monolayers. The organization of the alkane chains in the monolayer and the nature of the bonding between the palladium and the thiol were studied by contact angle measurements, optical ellipsometry, reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS data reveals that a compound palladium-sulfide interphase is present at the surface of the palladium film. The RAIR spectra, ellipsometry data, and wetting properties show that the palladium-sulfide phase is terminated with an organized, methyl-terminated monolayer of alkanethiolates. The local molecular environment of the alkane chains transitions from a conformationally disordered, liquidlike state to a mostly all-trans, crystalline-like structure with increasing chain length (n = 8-26). The intensities and dichroism of the methylene and methyl stretching modes support a model for the average orientation of an ensemble of all-trans-conformer chains with a tilt angle of approximately 14-18 degrees with respect to the surface normal and a twist angle of the CCC plane relative to the tilt plane of approximately 45 degrees. The SAMs are stable in air, although the sulfur present at the surface oxidizes in air over a period of 2-5 days at room temperature. The differences in chain organization between SAMs formed by microcontact printing and by solution deposition are also examined by RAIRS and XPS.     

弱碱性介质中氯离子对铜电极腐蚀行为的影响

应用循环伏安法、X射线光电子能谱法、电化学阻抗谱法以及现场椭圆偏光法研究了在弱碱性介质中添加Cl－对铜电极腐蚀行为的影响.结果表明, Cl－的加入能加剧铜电极的腐蚀,使腐蚀电流以及现场椭圆偏振参数Δ的变化范围都增大1个数量级, Cl－对Cu2O的掺杂将使铜电极的表面膜变得疏松,膜的耐蚀性变差.椭圆偏光实验不仅与电化学和能谱实验的结果一致,而且还能定性地、清楚地分辨出铜电极腐蚀过程中Cu2O的生成、Cl－对Cu2O的掺杂、CuO的生成等不同阶段;同时,利用恰当的模型还能定量地确定各个阶段铜电极表面膜的组成、厚度的变化,从而为研究铜电极的腐蚀与防护机理提供更多有用信息.     

Facile synthesis of thermally stable poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-modified gold surfaces by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Well-controlled polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) on Au surfaces by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) was carried out at room temperature by a silanization method. Initial attempts to graft poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) layers from initiators attached to alkanethiol monolayers yielded PVP films with thicknesses less than 5 nm. The combined factors of the difficulty in the controllable polymerization of NVP and the instability of alkanethiol monolayers led to the difficulty in the controlled polymerization of NVP on Au surfaces. Therefore, the silanization method was employed to form an adhesion layer for initiator attachment. This method allowed well-defined ATRP polymerization to occur on Au surfaces. Water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and reflectance Fourier transform infrared (reflectance FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the modified surfaces. The PVP-modified gold surface remained stable at 130 °C for 3 h, showing excellent thermal stability. Thus, postfunctionalization of polymer brushes at elevated temperatures is made possible. The silanization method was also applied to modify SPR chips and showed potential applications in biosensors and biochips.     

Comparison of Si-O-C interfacial bonding of alcohols and aldehydes on Si(111) formed from dilute solution with ultraviolet irradiation

Aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes were reacted with the Si(111)-H surface to form Si-O-C interfacial bonds from dilute solution by using ultraviolet light. The resulting monolayers were characterized by using transmission infrared spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and contact angle measurements. The effect of different solvents on monolayer quality is presented. The best monolayers were formed from CH(2)Cl(2). The optimized monolayers were thoroughly characterized to determine the film structure and monolayer stability. The UV-promoted, alcohol-functionalized, and aldehyde-functionalized monolayers are of comparable quality to those previously prepared by other means. Although both molecules are tethered through a Si-O-C bond, the film reactivity is distinctly different with the aldehyde films being more chemically resistant. The differences in chemical reactivity, vibrational spectra, hydrophobicity, and ellipsometric thickness between the alcohol and aldehyde monolayers are attributed to a difference in molecular coverage and monolayer formation.     

Comprehensive Research on the Response of MIS Sensors of Pd‒SiO2‒Si and Pd‒Ta2O5‒SiO2‒Si Structures to Various Gases in Air

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - The response Pd–SiO2–Si and Pd–Ta2O5–SiO2–Si metal?insulator?semiconductor (MIS) sensors to H2, H2S, NO2, C2H5SH,...     

Average orientation of a molecular rotor embedded in a Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer

A molecular rotor in which a naphthalene rotator is attached through a silicon atom to three fatty acid chains has been synthesized, and Langmuir-Blodgett techniques were used to deposit on silica surfaces monolayers of its calcium salt, both neat and diluted with stearic acid salts. The monolayer films have been characterized by ellipsometry and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) grazing-incidence attenuated total internal reflection (GATR) spectroscopy on Si-SiO(2) and by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy on SiO(2). The measurements were combined with calculations of the electronic (INDO/S) and vibrational (DFT) transition moment directions to deduce the average orientation of the rotor molecules, including the naphthalene ring, relative to the surface. In both neat and mixed films, the naphthalene ring is found to preferentially tilt toward the surface, enough that its rotation is most likely hindered. A comparable picture was obtained from molecular mechanics calculations on a mixed film of the naphthalene rotor and stearic acid.     

Epitaxial growth of AlN films on single-crystalline Ta substrates

We have demonstrated the first epitaxial growth of AlN films on single-crystalline Ta substrates by the use of a low-temperature growth technique based on pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Although previous AlN films grown on Ta(100) and (111) substrates have exhibited quite poor crystallinity, an epitaxial AlN(0001) film with an in-plane epitaxial relationship of AlN[112¯0]//Ta[001] has been obtained on a Ta(110) substrate at a growth temperature of 450 °C. We found that the full-width at half-maximum values for the crystal orientation distribution in the tilt and twist directions of the AlN film were 0.37° and 0.41°, respectively. Grazing-incidence X-ray reflection (GIXR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements have revealed that the AlN/Ta heterointerface is quite abrupt, and that its abruptness remains unchanged even after annealing at 1000 °C.     

自组装超薄膜修饰Ta2O5介质膜及其特性研究

采用静电自组装方法在五氧化二钽(Ta2O5)介质氧化膜上制备了聚二烯丙基二甲基氯化铵(PDDA)/聚苯乙烯磺酸钠(PSS)和聚二烯丙基二甲基氯化铵/聚-3,4-乙烯二氧噻吩-聚苯乙烯磺酸钠(PEDOT-PSS)超薄膜.研究了两种自组装超薄膜在Ta2O5介质氧化薄膜上的组装特性.结果表明两种自组装膜能够稳定地组装于Ta2O5介质膜表面,并有效降低薄膜的表面粗糙度.进一步研究了两种自组装超薄膜修饰的Ta2O5电容结构的电性能.结果表明静电自组装膜对Ta2O5介质膜表面进行修饰后,有效地隔离了介质氧化膜中的缺陷,降低了电容的漏电流并提高耐电压能力;研究还发现不同厚度的超薄膜对Ta2O5电容结构的耐压特性有不同程度的影响,较厚的薄膜可以更好地提高电容的耐压能力并降低漏电流,但会增加电容的等效串联电阻(ESR).另外,在相同薄膜层数的情况下,聚合物电解质PEDOT-PSS良好的导电性能降低了复合超薄膜的电阻,使得PDDA/PEDOT-PSS修饰的电容结构ESR值较低.