Adsorption properties of decyl thiocyanate and decanethiol on platinum substrates studied by sum-frequency generation spectroscopy

Recently, thiocyanate groups were successfully used as precursors for thiolate assemblies. Indeed, they provide a useful alternative to thiol groups for self-assembly on metallic substrates. In order to check the adsorption properties and the quality of the thiocyanate-based self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), we use sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) and apply it to characterize the ad-layers of two similar molecules: decanethiol (DT) and decyl thiocyanate (DTCN) adsorbed on platinum surfaces. By comparing the SFG signals of the methyl and methylene vibration modes, we show that DTCN SAMs are less ordered than DT ones. These effects are related to the SAMs quality which depends on the molecular packing as highlighted by scanning tunnelling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.     

Electrochemical study and detection of perphenazine using a gold electrode modified with decanethiol SAM

A novel method for the determination of perphenazine has been developed. The method is based on the accumulation of perphenazine at a gold electrode modified with decanethiol (DEC) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and its oxidation at about 0.6 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). Because some coexistent electroactives were blocked and perphenazine was selectively accumulated by the SAM, the electrode exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity. Various conditions were optimized for practical application. Under the selected conditions (i.e. 0.05 M pH 10 sodium borate buffer, accumulation time: 120 s, accumulation potential: −0.4 V, scan rate: 100 mV s⁻¹), the anodic stripping peak current was linear to perphenazine concentration in the ranges of 6×10⁻⁹–5×l0⁻⁷ and 5×10⁻⁷–5×10⁻⁶ M with correlation coefficients of 0.998 and 0.995, respectively. For a 1.0×10⁻⁶ M perphenazine solution, the relative standard deviation of peak height was 2.3% (n=8). This method was applied to the determination of perphenazine in some drugs and the recovery was 92–101%. In addition, it was found that in the presence of perphenazine, the SAM structure changed a little and more needle holes appeared. However, the SAM could recover the original form when perphenazine and its redox product were removed from the monolayer by repeatedly cycling the electrode in a blank solution for a minute. The modified electrode was characterized by alternating current impedance and electrochemical probe.     

Electrochemical Study of a Polypyrrole Film/Decanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayer on a Gold Electrode

Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to study the deposition of polypyrrole on a decanethiol self-assembled monolayer modified gold electrode (PPY/SAM/Au). The voltammetric behavior of the PPY/SAM film was investigated in the presence of several different electrolytes. It is found that the SAM shows great influence on the nucleation and growth of the PPY film. The reaction of the SAM and the anions causes the different voltammetric behavior of the polymerization of pyrrole on the modified electrode. Chronoamperometry shows the nucleation and growth of the PPY is initially inhibited but followed by a rapid increase. The SAM also influences electrochemical behavior of PPY film. Experiments show that the SAM can greatly depress the diffusion of anions in the PPY film, and minimize the background capacitance current.