Study on self-assembled monolayers of functionalized azobenzene thiols on gold: XPS, electrochemical properties, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

All-optical reversible control of integrated resonant cavity by a self-assembled azobenzene monolayer

The next frontier in photonics will rely on the synergistic combination of disparate material systems. One unique organic molecule is azobenzene. This molecule can reversibly change conformations when optically excited in the blue (trans-to-cis) or mid-IR (cis-to-trans). Here, we form an oriented monolayer of azobenzene-containing 4-(4-diethylaminophenylazo)pyridine (Aazo) on SiO₂ optical resonators. Due to the uniformity of the Aazo layers, quality factors over 10⁶ are achieved. To control the photo-response, the density of Aazo groups is tuned by integrating methyl spacer molecules. Using a pair of lasers, the molecule is reversibly flipped between molecular conformations, inducing a refractive index change which results in a resonant wavelength shift. The magnitude of the shift scales with the relative surface density of Aazo. To investigate reproducibility and stability of the organic monolayer, three switching cycles are demonstrated, and the performance is consistent even after a device is stored in air for 6 months.

Influence of polymerisation on the reversibility of low-energy proton exchange reactions by Para-Aminothiolphenol

The reversibility of redox processes is an important function for sensing and molecular electronic devices such as pH reporters or molecular switches. Here we report the electrochemical behaviour and redox reversibility of para-aminothiolphenol (PATP) after different polymerisation methods. We used electrochemical and photo-polymerisation in neutral buffers and plasma polymerisation in air to induce reversible redox states. The chemical stoichiometry and surface coverage of PATP in the polymerized layers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to measure the charge transfer, double layer capacitance and electrochemical rate of the layers during successive potential cycles. Our results show that the surface coverage of the redox active species is higher on electro-polymerised samples, however, after consecutive cycles all the methods converge to the same charge transfer, while the plasma polymerised samples achieve higher efficiency per molecule and UV polymerised samples have a higher electron transfer rate.

Localized surface plasmon resonance investigations of photoswitching in azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers on Au

Localized plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy, employing gold nanodisk substrates, is applied for studies of photoswitching in self-assembled monolayers of azobenzene-containing thiols. By choosing customized samples in which the sharp LSPR resonance is well separated from the spectral regime of the molecular absorption bands, the photoisomerization kinetics of the adlayer can be monitored in real time. Quantitative data on the photoinduced trans-cis and cis-trans isomerization processes in inert gas atmosphere were obtained as a function of irradiation intensity and temperature, demonstrating the high sensitivity of this technique to such processes in functional adlayers.

Azobenzene-containing triazatriangulenium adlayers on Au(111): structural and spectroscopic characterization

Adlayers of different azobenzene-functionalized derivatives of the triazatriangulenium (TATA) platform on Au(111) surfaces were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), gap-mode surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (gap-mode SERS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The chemical composition of the adlayers is in good agreement with the molecular structure, i.e., different chemical groups attached to the azobenzene functionality were identified. Furthermore, the presence of the azobenzene moieties in the adlayers was verified by the vibration spectra and electrochemical data. These results indicate that the molecules remain intact upon adsorption with the freestanding functional groups oriented perpendicularly to the TATA platform and thus also to the substrate surface.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of a Ag/oligo(phenyleneethynylene)/Ag sandwich

α,ω-Dithiols are a useful class of compounds in molecular electronics because of their ability to easily adsorb to two metal surfaces, producing a molecular junction. We have prepared Ag nanosphere/oligo(phenyleneethynylene)/Ag sol (AgNS/OPE/Ag sol) and Ag nanowire/oligo(phenyleneethynylene)/Ag sol (AgNW/OPE/Ag sol) sandwiches to simulate the architecture of a molecular electronic device. This was achieved by self-assembly of OPE on the silver nanosurface, deprotection of the terminal sulfur, and deposition of Ag sol atop the monolayer. These sandwiches were then characterized by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. The resulting spectra were compared to the bulk spectrum of the dimer and to the Ag nanosurface/OPE SERS spectra. The intensities of the SERS spectra in both systems exhibit a strong dependence on Ag deposition time and the results are also suggestive of intense interparticle coupling of the electromagnetic fields in both the AgNW/OPE/Ag and the AgNS/OPE/Ag systems. Three previously unobserved bands (1219, 1234, 2037 cm(-1)) arose in the SER spectra of the sandwiches and their presence is attributed to the strong enhancement of the electromagnetic field which is predicted from the COSMOL computational package. The 544 cm(-1) disulfide bond which is observed in the spectrum of solid OPE but is absent in the AgNS/OPE/Ag and AgNW/OPE/Ag spectra is indicative of chemisorption of OPE to the nanoparticles through oxidative dissociation of the disulfide bond.

Photoswitching behavior of azobenzene-containing alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers on Au surfaces

The photoisomerization of self-assembled monolayers of azobenzene-containing alkanethiols, as well as of mixed monolayers of these substances with n-alkanethiol spacer molecules on Au surfaces, was studied by photoelectrochemical measurements and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. A strong dependence on the molecular structure of the adsorbates was found, specifically on the linker between the azobenzene moiety and the alkanethiol: while molecules with an amide group were photoinactive, those with an ether group exhibited pronounced, reversible photoisomerization in pure and mixed adlayers. Both trans-cis and cis-trans isomerization followed first-order kinetics with time constants that suggest high quantum efficiencies for these processes.

Characterization of transparent conducting oxide surfaces using self-assembled electroactive monolayers

The electronic properties of various transparent conducting oxide (TCO) surfaces are probed electrochemically via self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). A novel graftable probe molecule having a tethered trichlorosilyl group and a redox-active ferrocenyl functionality (Fc(CH2) 4SiCl3) is synthesized for this purpose. This molecule can be self-assembled via covalent bonds to form monolayers on various TCO surfaces. On as-received ITO, saturation coverage of 6.6 x 10(-10) mol/cm2 by a close-packed monolayer and an electron-transfer rate of 6.65 s(-1) is achieved after 9 h of chemisorption, as determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and synchrotron X-ray reflectivity. With this molecular probe, it is found that O2 plasma-treated ITO has a significantly greater electroactive coverage of 7.9 x 10 (-10) mol/cm2 than as-received ITO. CV studies of this redox SAM on five different TCO surfaces reveal that MOCVD-derived CdO exhibits the greatest electroactive coverage (8.1 x 10(-10) mol/cm2) and MOCVD-derived ZITO (ZnIn2.0Sn1.5O) exhibits the highest electron transfer rate (7.12 s(-1)).

Covalent Immobilization of Heparin on Anatase TiO2 Films via Chemical Adsorbent Phosphoric Acid Interface

Heparin is covalently immobilized onto the surface of anatase TiO2 film using the bifunctional linking reagent, APTES (3-Aminopropyltriethoxylsilane), which can be bonded to the film by reaction between ethoxyl of the linking reagent and hydroxyl of the film. Compared to the control, the immobilization is enhanced by phosphoric acid chemical pre-adsorption on the film for there is more hydroxyl group present. Platelets deposited to heparinized surface showed only minor spreading and aggregation. The results of this study suggest that heparin immobilization to anatase TiO2 films via phosphoric acid interface may improve the in vivo blood compatibility.

Sonoelectrochemical synthesis of spike-like gold–silver alloy nanoparticles from bulk substrates and the application on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The synthesis of non-spherical spike-like gold-silver alloy nanoparticles on platinum substrates was first developed by sonoelectrochemical methods in this study. First, a silver substrate was roughened by a triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycle (ORC) in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 M HCl. Silver-containing complexes were found in the solution after the ORC treatment. Then a gold substrate was subsequently roughened by the similar ORC treatment in the same silver complexes-containing solution. After this procedure, Au- and Ag-containing complexes were left in the solution. Subsequently, the Au working electrode was immediately replaced by a Pt electrode. A cathodic overpotential was applied under controlled sonication and slight stirring to synthesize Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles on the Pt substrate. Encouragingly, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of Rhodamine 6G on the Au-Ag alloy nanoparticles-deposited Pt substrate exhibits a higher intensity by eight-fold of magnitude and a better resolution, as compared to that obtained on the Au nanoparticles-deposited Pt substrate.

Effect of Argon Plasma Treatment on Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Polypyrrole Deposited on Electrochemically Roughened Gold Substrates

In this work, polypyrrole (PPy) films were electrodeposited on electrochemically roughened gold substrates modified by argon plasma treatment. First, a gold substrate was roughened by a triangular-wave oxidation-reduction cycle (ORC) in an aqueous solution containing 0.1 N HCl. Then the roughened gold substrate was further treated by argon plasma. Encouragingly, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy of polypyrrole electrodeposited on this roughened gold substrate modified by argon plasma treatment exhibits a higher intensity by 8-fold, as compared with the SERS of PPy electrodeposited on an unmodified roughened gold substrate. Meanwhile, the electropolymerization for pyrrole monomers occurring on the modified roughened gold substrate is easier. Also, the nucleation and growth of electropolymerization of pyrrole monomers on the modified and unmodified gold substrates are different.

Molecularly “Engineered” Anode Adsorbates for Probing OLED Interfacial Structure−Charge Injection/Luminance Relationships: Large, Structure-Dependent Effects

Molecule-scale structure effects at organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) anode-organic transport layer interfaces are probed via a self-assembly approach. A series of ITO anode-linked silyltriarylamine molecules differing in aryl group and linker density are synthesized for this purpose and used to probe the relationship between nanoscale interfacial chemical structure, charge injection and electroluminescence properties. Dramatic variations in hole injection magnitude and OLED performance can be correlated with the molecular structures and electrochemically derived heterogeneous electron-transfer rates of such triarylamine fragments, placed precisely at the anode-hole transport layer interface. Very bright and efficient ( approximately 70 000 cd/m2 and approximately 2.5% forward external quantum efficiency) OLEDs have thereby been fabricated.