Maleimido-terminated self-assembled monolayers

Four approaches have been explored for the preparation of maleimido-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silicon. SAMs prepared by self-assembly of maleimido-functionalized alkyltrichlorosilanes (11-maleimido-undecyl-trichlorosilane) on oxide-covered silicon yield higher signals from maleimido functionalities in ATR-IR (attenuated total reflection IR) spectroscopy and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) than the other three methods. The surface composition of maleimido groups was tailored further by the formation of mixed monolayers with nonfunctionalized alkyltrichlorosilanes (decyltrichlorosilane). The order of the alkyl chains within the monolayers only slightly depends on the composition of the mixed monolayers. We utilized the maleimido-terminated SAMs to bind various nucleophilic compounds, alkylamines, alkylthiols, and thiol-tagged DNA oligonucleotides by means of conjugate addition.     

Engineering silicon oxide surfaces using self-assembled monolayers

Although a molecular monolayer is only a few nanometers thick it can completely change the properties of a surface. Molecular monolayers can be readily prepared using the Langmuir-Blodgett methodology or by chemisorption on metal and oxide surfaces. This Review focuses on the use of chemisorbed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) as a platform for the functionalization of silicon oxide surfaces. The controlled organization of molecules and molecular assemblies on silicon oxide will have a prominent place in "bottom-up" nanofabrication, which could revolutionize fields such as nanoelectronics and biotechnology in the near future. In recent years, self-assembled monolayers on silicon oxide have reached a high level of sophistication and have been combined with various lithographic patterning methods to develop new nanofabrication protocols and biological arrays. Nanoscale control over surface properties is of paramount importance to advance from 2D patterning to 3D fabrication.     

Oxidation states and CO ligand exchange kinetics in a self-assembled monolayer of a triruthenium cluster studied by in situ infrared spectroscopy

Oxidation states and CO ligand exchange kinetics in a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of an oxo-centered triruthenium cluster [Ru(3)(mu3-O)(mu-CH3COO)6(CO)(L1)(L2)] (L1 = [(NC5H4)CH2NHC(O)(CH2)10S-]2, L2 = 4-methylpyridine) have been extensively investigated on the surface of a gold electrode in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions. The SAM exhibits three consecutive one-electron transfers and four oxidation states, which have been characterized by electrochemistry, in situ infrared spectroscopy, and in situ sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy measurements. The original electron-localized state of the Ru cluster center was changed to electron delocalization states by oxidation or reduction of the central Ru ions. These changes are revealed by the IR absorptions of the CO ligand and the bridging acetate ligands of the triruthenium cluster in the SAM. The IR absorptions of the two kinds of ligands are strongly dependent on the oxidation state of the Ru cluster center. One-electron oxidation of the central Ru ion in the SAM triggers a CO ligand liberation process. Solvent molecules may then occupy the CO site to result in a CO-free SAM. One-electron reduction of this CO-free SAM in a CO-saturated solution leads to re-coordination of the CO ligand into the SAM. Both processes can be precisely controlled by tuning the electrode potential. The kinetics of the CO exchange cycle in the SAM, including liberation and coordination, has been investigated by in situ IR and SFG measurements for the first time. The CO exchange cycle is significantly dependent on the temperature. The reaction rate greatly decreases with decreasing solution temperature, which is an important factor in the CO ligand exchange process. The activation energies of both CO liberation and coordination have been evaluated from the reaction rate constants obtained at various temperatures.     

Electrochemical characterization of self-assembled thiol-porphyrin monolayers on gold electrodes by SECM.

Herein, the scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) approach is applied to study the formation of thiol-porphyrin self-assembled monolayer (SAMs). Using cyclic voltammetry (CV), the formation process is characterized adopting different probe molecules. The observed phenomena indicate that the formation process is affected by solution properties and the molecular structure of the probe molecules. In K(3)Fe(CN)(6) , the SAMs show a strong electron-transfer (ET) blocking effect on a pure porphyrin-modified electrode. However, addition of metal ions to the porphyrin molecules leads to ET. A consistent tendency is observed throughout the modification process using CV and SECM methods. Furthermore, k(eff) values, the apparent heterogeneous rate constants, obtained for different modification periods affirm the validity of these results. SECM images are used to collect surface information in the course of the modification process when the substrate potential is 0.5 V versus Ag/AgCl. The effect of the substrate potential indicates that the oxidation of the porphyrin molecules is supported by more positive potentials because of the similar bimolecular reaction of the porphyrin ring with positive charge and the probe molecules with negative charge.     

Self-assembled monolayers of novel surface-bound dendrons: peripheral structure determines surface organization

The synthetic and functional versatility of dendrimers and their well-defined shapes make them attractive molecules for surface modification. We synthesized six structurally very similar surface-bound dendrons and used them as building blocks for the preparation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a gold surface. We studied the effects of the surface-bound dendron's main structure, peripheral substituents, and the coadsorption process on its self-assembling behavior. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we observed nanostripes for SAMs of the surface-bound dendron consisting of symmetrical benzene rings. When we changed the symmetrical dendron's structure slightly, by increasing or decreasing the numbers of benzene rings at one wedge, we found no ordered structures were formed by the asymmetrical dendrons. We also introduced two kinds of substituents, heptane chains and oligo(ethylene oxide) chains, to the symmetrical dendron's periphery. Heptane chains appear to enhance the interaction between symmetrical backbones, leading to the formation of stripes, while oligo(ethylene oxide) chains appear to weaken the interaction between symmetrical backbones, resulting in a homogeneous structure. Dendrons with both heptane and oligo(ethylene oxide) chains exhibit nanophase separation in a confined state, leading to the formation of a honeycomb structure. Electrochemical studies provide additional evidence for understanding the resulting surface organizations: surface-bound dendrons with symmetrical structures form denser monolayers than their asymmetrical analogues; SAMs comprising peripherally substituted dendrons exhibit blocking effects proportionate to their hydrophilic fraction.     

Plasma reactions of self-assembled monolayers to model oxygen atom effects on polymers

The plasma treatment of self-assembled monolayers of octadecyl mercaptan on gold substrates has been investigated as a model for oxygen atom effects on polymers. Both O₂ and H₂O low pressure gas plasmas have been used. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has revealed that the two plasma treatments differ from each other in the extent of oxidation and etch rate with O₂ being the more aggressive plasma. The results have confirmed that the plasma modification of organic surfaces involves a balance between surface oxidation and surface etching. The well-defined structure of the monolayer enables quantitation of these atom-substrate reactions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Catalytic self-assembled monolayers on Au nanoparticles: the source of catalysis of a transphosphorylation reaction

The catalytic activity of a series of Au monolayer protected colloids (Au MPCs) containing different ratios of the catalytic unit triazacyclononane?Zn^II (TACN?Zn^II) and an inert triethyleneglycol (TEG) unit was measured. The catalytic self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) are highly efficient in the transphosphorylation of 2‐hydroxy propyl 4‐nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP), an RNA model substrate, exhibiting maximum values for the Michaelis–Menten parameters k_cat and K_M of 6.7×10^?3 s^?1 and 3.1×10^?4 M , respectively, normalized per catalytic unit. Despite the structural simplicity of the catalytic units, this renders these nanoparticles among the most active catalysts known for this substrate. Both k_cat and K_M parameters were determined as a function of the mole fraction of catalytic unit (x ₁ ) in the SAM. Within this nanoparticle (NP) series, k_cat increases up till x ₁ ≈0.4, after which it remains constant and K_M decreases exponentially over the range studied. A theoretical analysis demonstrated that these trends are an intrinsic property of catalytic SAMs, in which catalysis originates from the cooperative effect between two neighboring catalytic units. The multivalency of the system causes an increase of the number of potential dimeric catalytic sites composed of two catalytic units as a function of the x ₁ , which causes an apparent increase in binding affinity (decrease in K_M). Simultaneously, the k_cat value is determined by the number of substrate molecules bound at saturation. For values of x ₁ > 0.4, isolated catalytic units are no longer present and all catalytic units are involved in catalysis at saturation. Importantly, the observed trends are indicative of a random distribution of the thiols in the SAM. As indicated by the theoretical analysis, and confirmed by a control experiment, in case of clustering both k_cat and K_M values remain constant over the entire range of x ₁ .     

The study of paramagnetic self‐assembled monolayers formed by nitroxide radical (TEMPO)3O3P on HOPG

The studies of (TEMPO)₃O₃P molecules (tri‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐oxyl‐4‐piperidyl) phosphite) and their monolayers formed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) are presented. (TEMPO)₃O₃P is synthesized from TEMPOL precursor (4‐hydroxy‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl). We focused on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) investigations. The EPR experiments demonstrate the paramagnetism of (TEMPO)₃O₃P in powdered form and in solution. Furthermore, these paramagnetic properties of (TEMPO)₃O₃P are preserved after the deposition on HOPG substrate. The STM studies show that (TEMPO)₃O₃P molecules have a strong tendency to form self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs). The detailed STM images let us to explore the structure of (TEMPO)₃O₃P on HOPG and propose a structural model for the observed SAMs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ spectroscopic characterization of rectifying molecular monolayers self-assembled on gold.

We report visible, Raman, and infrared spectra of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed by the donor-(pi-bridge)-acceptor chromophore, Z-beta-[N-(omega-acetylthioalkyl)-4-quinolinium]-alpha-cyano-4-styryldicyanomethanide (CH3CO-S-CnH2n-Q3CNQ where n=8, 10), on gold-coated substrates. The data are compared with the spectra collected for the same compound in solution and in the solid state, and with those obtained for a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer of C16H33-Q3CNQ deposited on gold. Spectral analysis confirms that in solution, in the solid state and in the LB film the chromophore has a zwitterionic (D+-pi-A-) ground state. At variance with this well-known result, our data show that in SAMs deposited on gold the chromophore has a more neutral, quinoid ground state. We relate this difference to the different packing of the molecules in the two different films: in SAMs in fact the chromophores stand almost vertical with respect to the substrate, whereas in LB films they make an angle of about 45 degrees. The Q3CNQ molecule is a well-known molecular rectifier, and for SAMs we were able to check the direction of electron flow at forward bias on the same samples that have been characterized spectroscopically, shedding light on the rectification mechanism.     

Hemoglobin on phosphonic acid terminated self-assembled monolayers at a gold electrode: immobilization, direct electrochemistry, and electrocatalysis

Phosphonic acid (--PO(3)H(2)) terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on a gold surface were used as a functional interface to immobilize hemoglobin (Hb). In situ surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) measurements show that Hb immobilization is a sluggish process due to formation of multilayer Hb structures on the PO(3)H(2)-terminated SAMs, as revealed by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). In the multilayered Hb film, the innermost Hb molecules can directly exchange electrons with the electrode, whereas Hb beyond this layer communicates electronically with the electrode via protein-protein electron exchange. In addition, electrochemical measurements indicate that immobilization of Hb on the PO(3)H(2)-terminated SAMs is not driven by the electrostatic interaction, but likely by hydrogen-bonding interaction. The immobilized Hb molecules show excellent bioelectrocatalytic activity towards hydrogen peroxide, that is, the PO(3)H(2)-terminated SAMs are promising for construction of third-generation biosensors.