Study on surface acid-base property of carboxylic acid-terminated self-assembled monolayers by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spec-troscopy were used to study the surface acid-base property of carboxylic acid-terminated self-assembled monolayers(SAMs).A carboxylic acid-terminated thiol,such as thioctic acid(1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid),was self-assembled on gold electrodes.Electron transfer between the bulk solution and the SAM modified electrode was studied at different pH using Fe(CN)63-as a probe.The surface pka of thioctic acid was determined by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to be 5.6 ±0.1 and 5.8±0.1,respectively.The method is compared with other methods of monolayer pKa measurement.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Self‐Assembled Monolayer of a Novel Manganese Tetrabenzylthio‐Substituted Phthalocyanine and Its Use in Nitrite Oxidation

Manganese phthalocyanine MnPc(SPh)₄ has been synthesized and used to form self assembled monolayers on gold electrodes. The well packed SAM monolayer was characterized by analyzing the blocking of a number of Faradic processes by cyclic voltammetry, evaluating the electrical characteristics of the modified electrode by electrochemical impedance and imaging the modified surface by electrochemical scanning microscopy. Finally, MnPc(SPh)₄‐SAM modified electrode displayed an electrocatalytic behavior toward the oxidation of nitrite.     

3-氨基-1,2,4-三氮唑自组装膜对黄铜的缓蚀作用

3-氨基-1,2,4-三氮唑(ATA)是一种环境友好型金属处理剂, 以其在黄铜表面制备了自组装单分子膜(SAMs), 用电化学方法研究ATA SAMs对黄铜的缓蚀作用及其吸附行为. 结果表明, ATA分子易在黄铜表面形成稳定的ATA SAMs, SAMs抑制了黄铜的阳极氧化过程, 改变了电极表面的双电层结构, 固/液界面双电层电容明显降低, 有良好的缓蚀效果. 研究结果还表明, ATA的吸附行为符合Langmuir吸附等温式, 吸附机理是典型的化学吸附.     

In Situ Synthesis of a Novel Quinone Imine Self‐Assembled Monolayer and Consideration of Its Reactivity with L‐Arginine

In situ functionalization of a 4‐aminothiophenol (4ATP) self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) on a Au electrode (4ATP/Au SAM) by the Michael addition reaction is considered. Under optimized conditions, the nucleophilic attack of the amino group of 4ATP/Au SAM to give an electrogenerated ortho‐quinone produced a novel electroactive SAM (ESAM). The ESAM could be oxidized to quinone‐imine SAM (QI SAM) for the covalent immobilization of L ‐arginine monolayers. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy are employed to characterize these systems.. The apparent heterogeneous rate constant (k_s^app) for ESAM/Au and the rate constant (k′) of the pseudo‐first order Michael addition reaction of L ‐arginine and ESAM/Au are calculated.     

Interference from Trace Copper in Electrochemical Investigations Employing Carboxylic Acid Terminated Thiol Modified Gold Electrodes

Unexpectedly, electrochemistry at variable chain length carboxylic acid terminated alkylthiol self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrodes gives rise to a Faradaic process in buffered aqueous electrolyte solution. In particular, the three‐carbon chain length, 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), exhibits a chemically reversible process with a mid‐point potential of 175 mV vs. Ag/AgCl under conditions of cyclic voltammetry. This process is associated with the presence of trace (parts per billion) amounts of copper(II) ions present in the chemical reagents used to prepare the aqueous electrolyte and also from the gold electrode itself. The carboxylic acid moiety on the SAM concentrates Cu²⁺ ions by coordination and this surface confined layer is then reduced. Methods to minimize the interference of Cu²⁺ ions at carboxylic acid terminated SAM are discussed and caution with respect to the interpretation of protein electrochemistry is recommended when using carboxylic acid functionalized SAMs to provide biocompatible electrochemical transduction surfaces, unless a metal free environment can be obtained.     

A Rationally Designed Thymidine‐Based Self‐Assembled Monolayer on a Gold Electrode for Electroanalytical Applications

A self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 1‐(3,5‐epidithio‐2,3,5‐trideoxy‐β‐d ‐threo‐pentofuranosyl)thymine (EFT) on a gold electrode was prepared and characterized by Raman spectral and electrochemical measurements. Voltammetric and electrochemical impedance measurements show that the SAM of EFT on a Au electrode impedes the electron‐transfer reaction. The SAM of EFT was successfully used for the voltammetric sensing of urate in neutral solution. The coexisting ascorbate anion does not interfere and therefore the EFT‐based electrode was able to quantify urate at the micromolar level in the presence of a large excess amount of ascorbate. To demonstrate the practical applications, the amount of urate in two different human serum samples was quantified by using the EFT‐based electrode; the results are in good agreement with those determined by the clinical method. DFT calculations show that both ascorbate and urate have noncovalent interactions including hydrogen‐bonding interactions with EFT.     

Chiral Thin Films of Metal Oxide

In this paper, we describe for the first time the synthesis of new chiral nanosized metal oxide surfaces based on chiral self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) coated with metal oxide (TiO₂) nanolayers. In this new type of nanosize chiral surface, the metal oxide nanolayers enable the protection of the chiral self‐assembled monolayers while preserving their enantioselective nature. The chiral nature of the SAM/TiO₂ films was characterized by variety of unique techniques, such as second‐harmonic generation circular dichroism (SHG‐CD), quartz crystal microbalance, and chiral adsorption measurements with circular dichroism spectroscopy. The chiral resolution abilities of the SAMs coated with metal oxide (TiO₂) nanolayers were investigated in the crystallization of a racemic mixture of threonine and glutamic acid. Our proposed methodology for the preparation of nanoscale chiral surfaces described in this article could open up opportunities in other fields of chemistry, such as chiral catalysis.     

Polycrystalline Gold Electrodes: A Comparative Study of Pretreatment Procedures Used for Cleaning and Thiol Self‐Assembly Monolayer Formation

The influence of different surface pretreatment procedures on the electrochemical response of a polycrystalline gold electrode was evaluated. Mechanical polishing with slurry alumina (M), chemical oxidation with H₂SO₄/H₂O₂ (C), electrochemical polishing (potential cycling between ?0.1 V and 1.2 V vs. SCE) (E), chemical reduction with ethanol, and combinations among these treatments were employed to change the surface electrode characteristics. The efficiency of the proposed pretreatments was evaluated by electrochemical responses towards the redox couple ferri(II/III)‐ammonium sulfate and by the formation of a self‐assembly monolayer of 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3 MPA SAM) on gold electrodes. The procedure (C) allowed important gold surfaces activation. Using procedures (C) and (E) the roughness of polycrystalline gold surfaces was significantly minimized and more reproducible surfaces could be obtained. From the profile of reductive desorption of 3 MPA SAM it was possible to verify that reduced gold surfaces generated better packed monolayers than oxidized ones and a comparative study using CV and DPV techniques showed that between the two desorption peaks, the one localized at more negative potential values corresponds to the cleavage of Au‐S bond from the chemisorbed thiol. In general, the improvement in the studied electrochemical responses could not only be attributed to an increase in the real surface area of the electrode, but to the chemical surface states set off by the pretreatment procedure.     

Self‐Assembled Redox System for Bioelectrocatalytic Assay of L‐Ascorbylphosphate and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity

Ferrocene‐terminated self‐assembled monolayer (Fc‐SAM) on gold was used as an electron‐transfer mediator in the electrochemical assay of L ‐ascorbic acid 2‐phosphate (AAP). The assay is based on the enzymatic action of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which triggers the release of vitamin C (L ‐ascorbic acid, AA) from AAP. The latter is easily oxidized on the Fc‐SAM under the diffusion limiting conditions that favors quantitative measurement of the AA concentration on a rotating disk electrode. We demonstrate the utility of the electrochemically active Fc‐SAM to probe the mechanism and to determine the kinetic parameters of an enzymatic reaction. The electrochemical technique was compared to a conventional spectrophotometric method of ALP activity detection using p‐nitrophenylphosphate (p‐NPP) as a substrate. We demonstrate that our new technique is also suitable for the analytical determination of ALP activity. The detection limits for both AAP and ALP were found to be 13 μM and 2 pM, respectively.     

Gold Electrode Modified with Self‐Assembled Monolayer of Cysteamine‐Functionalized MWCNT and Its Application in Simultaneous Determination of Dopamine and Uric Acid

The voltammetric behavior of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) on a gold electrode modified with self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of cysteamine (CA) conjugated with functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. The film modifier of functionalized SAM was characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using para‐hydroquinone (PHQ) as a redox probe. For the binary mixture of DA and UA, the voltammetric signals of these two compounds can be well separated from each other, allowing simultaneous determination of DA and UA. The effect of various experimental parameters on the voltammetric responses of DA and UA was investigated. The detection limit in differential pulse voltammetric determinations was obtained as 0.02 µM and 0.1 µM for DA and UA, respectively. The prepared modified electrode indicated a stable behavior and the presence of surface COOH groups of the functionalized MWCNT avoided the passivation of the electrode surface during the electrode processes. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of DA and UA in urine samples with satisfactory results. The response of the gold electrode modified with MWCNT‐functionalized SAM method toward DA, UA, and ascorbic acid (AA) oxidation was compared with the response of the modified electrode prepared by the direct casting of MWCNT.     

Bioinspired polymer functionalized with a diiron carbonyl model complex and its assembly onto the surface of a gold electrode via “click” chemistry

A complex pendant with two ethynyl groups, [Fe₂(μ‐SCH₂CCH)₂(CO)₆] ( 2 ), as a model of the diiron subunit of [FeFe]‐hydrogenase was polymerized and the {Fe₂(CO)₆} core was successfully incorporated into the polymer matrix. The polymer was characterized by a variety of spectroscopic techniques, TGA, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and NMR. The resultant polymer was immobilized via “click” chemistry using its terminal C?CH bond onto the surface of a gold electrode, which was premodified with azidothiol by self‐assembled monolayer (SAM). The assembled electrode showed electrochemical responses. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2410–2417, 2010     

银电极上植酸钠/2-氨基-5-巯基-1,3,4-噻二唑混合自组装层的表面增强拉曼光谱和电化学研究

应用表面增强拉曼散射光谱(SERS)和电化学方法, 对银电极上2-氨基-5-巯基-1,3,4-噻二唑(AMT)和植酸钠混合自组装单层结构和缓蚀性能关系进行了研究. SERS光谱表明, 银电极表面形成AMT膜后, 再组装植酸钠分子能够弥合AMT膜的缺陷. 交流阻抗和极化曲线实验表明, 形成的混合自组装层比单一AMT自组装层表现出更好的缓蚀性能. AMT膜层的等效电路为R(Q(R(Q(RW)))); 混合膜层电路图为LR(Q(R(Q(R)))).     

Surface‐Tuned Electron Transfer and Electrocatalysis of Hexameric Tyrosine‐Coordinated Heme Protein

Molecular modeling, electrochemical methods, and quartz crystal microbalance were used to characterize immobilized hexameric tyrosine‐coordinated heme protein (HTHP) on bare carbon or on gold electrodes modified with positively and negatively charged self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs), respectively. HTHP binds to the positively charged surface but no direct electron transfer (DET) is found due to the long distance of the active sites from the electrode surfaces. At carboxyl‐terminated surfaces, the neutrally charged bottom of HTHP can bind to the SAM. For this “disc” orientation all six hemes are close to the electrode and their direct electron transfer should be efficient. HTHP on all negatively charged SAMs showed a quasi‐reversible redox behavior with rate constant k_s values between 0.93 and 2.86 s^?1 and apparent formal potentials ${E{{0{^{\prime }}\hfill \atop {\rm app}\hfill}}}$ between ‐131.1 and ‐249.1 mV. On the MUA/MU‐modified electrode, the maximum surface concentration corresponds to a complete monolayer of the hexameric HTHP in the disc orientation. HTHP electrostatically immobilized on negatively charged SAMs shows electrocatalysis of peroxide reduction and enzymatic oxidation of NADH.     

Electrochemical Determination of Cu(II) Ions by 4‐Formylphenylboronic Acid Modified Gold Electrode

A self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) modified by 4‐formylphenylboronic acid was formed on the gold electrode, which was applied for the determination of trace concentrations of Cu(II). The formation of advanced SAM on the gold electrode was evidenced by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Electrochemical determination of Cu(II) ions was performed by square wave voltammetry. Some mutual interferences caused by Cd(II), Co(II), Fe(II), Ni(II) and Pb(II) ions were investigated and it was demonstrated how the negative effects of these interfering ions could be eliminated by adjustment of proper parameters of square wave voltammetry.     

Self‐Assembly Film of Zeolite Y Nanocrystals Loading Palladium on an Au Electrode for Electrochemical Applications

Nano‐scale zeolite Y crystals were synthesized, and palladium nanoparticles were prepared in the supercage of the zeolite by “ship‐in‐a‐bottle” approach. A novel method to fabricate zeolite‐modified electrode (ZME) loading Pd nanoparticles was developed, in which the zeolite Y loading Pd²⁺ ions was self‐assembled on (3‐mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane‐attached Au surface to form the stable and density packed multilayers (SAM‐ZME). The structures of zeolite Y and the SAM‐ZME were investigated by using TEM, XRD and SEM techniques. Pd²⁺ ions in the SAM‐ZME were converted into Pd nanoparticles (Pd_n⁰) by two steps consisting of the electrochemical reduction as well as the succeeding admission and release of CO. The redox couple [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? was used to probe the electron‐transfer barrier properties during self‐assembling process. Moreover, the special properties of the SAM‐ZME loading Pd_n⁰ were studied by using cyclic voltammetry and CO‐probe in situ FTIR spectroscopy. The results illustrated that Pd_n⁰ in the SAM‐ZME exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of adsorbed CO than that of ZME prepared in our previous study by zeolite coating method. The present study is of importance in design and preparation of SAM‐ZME, which poccesseses excellent properties for the immobilization of electrocatalysts or biomolecules.     

Electrochemical Investigation of Cytochrome c Immobilized onto Self‐Assembled Monolayer of Captopril

The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c (cyt‐c) that was electrostatically immobilized onto a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of captopril (capt) on a gold electrode has been investigated. Cyclic voltammetry, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed to evaluate the blocking property of the capt SAM. SECM was used to measure the bimolecular electron transfer (ET) kinetics (k_BI) between a solution‐based redox probe and the immobilized protein. In addition, the tunneling ET between the immobilized protein and the underlying gold electrode was calculated. A k_BI value of (5.0±0.6)×10⁸ mol^?1 cm³ s^?1 for the bimolecular ET and a standard tunneling rate constant (k⁰) of 46.4±0.2 s^?1 for the tunneling ET have been obtained.     

High‐Resolution Surface Chemical Analysis of a Trifunctional Pattern Made by Sequential Colloidal Shadowing

We present a new method for creating surface chemical patterns where three chemistries can be periodically arranged at alternate positions on a single substrate without the use of top‐down approaches. High‐resolution chemical imaging by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS), with nanometer spatial resolution, is used to prove the success of the patterning and subsequent chemical modification steps. We use a combination of colloidal self‐assembly, plasma etching, self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) and physical vapour deposition (PVD). The method utilizes a double colloid assembly process in which a first layer of close‐packed colloids is created, followed by plasma etching, coating with gold and deposition of a first SAM layer. A second particle layer is deposited on top of the first layer masking the interstitial spaces containing the first SAM. A second gold layer is deposited followed by a second SAM. After particle removal the surface consists of the pattern containing two different SAMs and a SiO₂ layer that can be readily functionalized with silanes. The possibility in the replacement of the two different thiols is investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and it was found that no replacement is taking place. ToF‐SIMS imaging is used to show the periodicity of the chemical patterns by tracking unique fragment ions from the different surface regions. The patterning method is adaptable to create smaller or larger chemical patterns by appropriate choice of particle sizes. The patterns are useful for immobilizing biomolecules for cell studies or as multiplexed biosensors.     

Atomic‐Level Elucidation of the Initial Stages of Self‐Assembled Monolayer Metallization and Nanoparticle Formation

The development of high‐performance molecular electronics and nanotech applications requires deep understanding of atomic level structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of electrode/molecular interfaces. Recent electrochemical experiments on self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) have identified highly practical means to generate nanoparticles and metal monolayers suspended above substrate surfaces through SAM metallizations. A rational basis why this process is even possible is not yet well‐understood. To clarify the initial stages of interface formation during SAM metallization, we used first‐principles spin‐polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study Pd diffusion on top of 4‐mercaptopyridine (4MP) SAMs on Au(111). After distinguishing potential‐energy surfaces (PESs) for different spin configurations for transition metal atoms on the SAM, we find adatom diffusion is not possible over the clean 4MP–SAM surface. Pre‐adsorption of transition‐metal atoms, however, facilitates atomic diffusion that appears to explain multiple reports on experimentally observed island and monolayer formation on top of SAMs. Furthermore, these diffusions most likely occur by moving across low‐lying and intersecting PESs of different spin states, opening the possibility of magnetic control over these systems. Vertical diffusion processes were also investigated, and the electrolyte was found to play a key role in preventing metal permeation through the SAM to the substrate.     

Atomic Force Microscopic and Electrochemical Investigations of an Electrostatically Fabricated Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes Modified Electrode

Single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) sub‐monolayer film has been prepared by simply electrostatically adsorbing nanotubes onto a 2‐aminoethanethiol self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold bead electrode. Tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy (TM‐AFM) is used to characterize the SWNT film, which exhibits that the orientation of SWNTs on the SAM is horizontal and the surface coverage is quite low. The SWNTs modified electrode shows nearly ideal electrochemical response to Fe(CN) /Fe(CN) redox probe. The electrode with such a low SWNTs coverage, however, shows good electrocatalytic behavior to cytochrome c.     

Self‐assembled Monolayers of Alkylphosphonic Acids on Aluminum Oxide Surfaces – A Theoretical Study

Density‐functional based calculations were used to investigate self‐assembled monolayers of different alkylphosphonic acids on corundum α‐Al₂O₃ (0001), bayerite β‐Al(OH)₃ (001) and boehmite γ‐AlOOH (010) surface models. Mono‐, bi‐, and tridentate adsorption modes were considered. In addition, the organization of single adsorbed molecules was compared to the organization at full surface coverage. The height (thickness) of the self‐assembled monolayers is always shorter than the length of the phosphonic acid molecules due to tilting of the alkyl chains. Tilt angles at full surface coverage are very similar to the tilt angle of a single adsorbed molecule, which indicates that the density of the self‐assembled monolayers is limited by the density of adsorption sites. The lateral interactions between alkyl chains are evidenced by small torsions of the adsorbed molecules, which may serve to minimize the repulsion forces between interchain hydrogen atoms. Similar tilt angles were obtained for mono‐, bi‐, and tridentate adsorptions. Hence, the coordination mode cannot be characterized by the molecule tilting.