Study of organic grafting of the silicon surface from 4-nitrobenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate

Spectroelectrochemical determination of thiolate self-assembled monolayer adsorptive stability in aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes

Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) are ubiquitous in studies of modified electrodes for sensing, electrocatalysis, and environmental and energy applications. However, determining their adsorptive stability is crucial to ensure robust experiments. In this work, the stable potential window (SPW) in which a SAM-covered electrode can function without inducing SAM desorption was determined for aromatic SAMs on gold electrodes in aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. The SPWs were determined by employing cyclic voltammetry, attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The electrochemical and spectroscopic findings concluded that all the aromatic SAMs used displayed similar trends and SPWs. In aqueous systems, the SPW lies between the reductive desorption and oxidative desorption, with pH being the decisive factor affecting the range of the SPW, with the widest SPW observed at pH 1. In the non-aqueous electrolytes, the desorption of SAMs was observed to be slow and progressive. The polarity of the solvent was the main factor in determining the SPW. The lower the polarity of the solvent, the larger the SPW, with 1-butanol displaying the widest SPW. This work showcases the power of spectroelectrochemical analysis and provides ample future directions for the use of non-polar solvents to increase SAM stability in electrochemical applications.

Monitoring SEIRAS on a Graphitic Electrode for Surface-Sensitive Electrochemistry: Real-Time Electrografting

The ubiquity of graphitic materials in electrochemistry makes it highly desirable to probe their interfacial behavior under electrochemical control. Probing the dynamics of molecules at the electrode/electrolyte interface is possible through spectroelectrochemical approaches involving surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). Usually, this technique can only be done on plasmonic metals such as gold or carbon nanoribbons, but a more convenient substrate for carbon electrochemical studies is needed. Here, we expanded the scope of SEIRAS by introducing a robust hybrid graphene-on-gold substrate, where we monitored electrografting processes occurring at the graphene/electrolyte interface. These electrodes consist of graphene deposited onto a roughened gold-sputtered internal reflection element (IRE) for attenuated total reflectance (ATR) SEIRAS. The capabilities of the graphene-gold IRE were demonstrated by successfully monitoring the electrografting of 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidine N-oxyl (4-amino-TEMPO) and 4-nitrobenzene diazonium (4-NBD) in real time. These grafts were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and ATR-SEIRAS, clearly showing the 1520 and 1350 cm-1 NO2 stretches for 4-NBD and the 1240 cm-1 C-C, C-C-H, and N-Ȯ stretch for 4-amino-TEMPO. Successful grafts on graphene did not show the SEIRAS effect, while grafting on gold was not stable for TEMPO and had poorer resolution than on graphene-gold for 4-NBD, highlighting the uniqueness of our approach. The graphene-gold IRE is proficient at resolving the spectral responses of redox transformations, unambiguously demonstrating the real-time detection of surface processes on a graphitic electrode. This work provides ample future directions for real-time spectroelectrochemical investigations of carbon electrodes used for sensing, energy storage, electrocatalysis, and environmental applications.

Covalent Grafting of Dielectric Films on Cu(111) Surface via Electrochemical Reduction of Aryl Diazonium Salts

Covalent grafting of dielectric films containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) on the surface of Cu(111) is performed by a one-step electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts. This method is efficient and economic and performs in a proton-polar solvent of deionized water and tetrahydrofuran (THF), where the monomer employs an octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS) containing a POSS core. The eight vinyl bonds contained in OVS are used to participate in aryl radical-initiated polymerization reactions to form films. The formed film is dense and covers the copper surface completely and uniformly. The thickness of the film can be controlled by adjusting the reaction time. The components of the films are mainly polynitrophenyl (PNP) or polyaminophenyl (PAP) as well as poly(octavinylsilsesquioxane) (POVS), and the POVS content could be adjusted by the applied voltage. The introduction of POSS prevents the copper surface from being oxidized and often gives the film good properties such as good dielectric properties, mechanical properties, and thermal properties. In addition, the presence of Cu-O-C and Cu-C bonds between the film and copper interface is confirmed at different film thicknesses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which allowed the construction of covalent bonds between metal and nonmetal, further enhancing the bonding between the film and copper. Organic films prepared by electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts using OVS as a monomer will have potential significance for the future development of the electronics industry.

Graphene oxide membrane chemically modified by electron-transfer diazonium chemistry for efficient dye separation

By chemical modification of the graphene oxide (GO) surface via diazonium chemistry, we introduce nitrobenzene groups as new interlayer pillars to GO memebranes like the surface oxygen-containing functional groups. The larger pillar can finely enlarge the interlayer space of the GO membrane. The filtration performance of modified GO membranes with different mass ratios of nitrobenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate (NDT) were tested for EB, DR81, and MB. Notably, when the GO : NDT ratio is 1 : 1, it is found that the water flux can be enhanced by more than twice and by nearly 1.4 times its value for EB and DR81, respectively, while maintaining a high rejection (92% for EB and 95% for DR81). In conclusion, the chemical modification of GO through the dediazonization reaction of NDT can indeed improve the separation efficiency of the dye.

Fabrication of Multiscale 1-Octadecene Monolayer Patterned Arrays Based on a Chemomechanical Method

A controlled and self-assembled micromachining system was built to fabricate a mico/nanoscale monolayer patterned array on a silicon surface using a diamond tip. The process was as follows: (1) we preprocessed a silicon wafer to obtain a hydrogen-terminated silicon surface; (2) we scratched three rectangular arrays of 10 μm × 3 μm with a spacing of 2 μm on the silicon surface with a diamond tip in 1-octadecene solution; the Si-H bonds were broken, and silicon free radicals were formed; (3) the 1-octadecene molecules were connected with silicon atoms based on Si-C covalent bonds, and the 1-octadecene nano monolayer was self-assembled on the patterned arrays of the silicon surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Sessile water contact angles were used to detect and characterize the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The XPS results showed that the Si2p peak and the O1s peak were significantly decreased after self-assembly; however, the C1s peak was successively significantly increased. Sessile water contact angles showed that the hydrophilicity was weakened after the formation of 1-octenecene SAMs on the silicon substrate. The nanofriction of the sample was measured with AFM. The change in nanofriction also demonstrated that the SAMs were formed in accordance with the patterned array. We demonstrated that, by using this method, self-assembled multiscale structures on silicon substrate can be formed quickly and conveniently.

Advances on Aryldiazonium Salt Chemistry Based Interfacial Fabrication for Sensing Applications

Aryldiazonium salts as coupling agents for surface chemistry have evidenced their wide applications for the development of sensors. Combined with advances in nanomaterials, current trends in sensor science and a variety of particular advantages of aryldiazonium salt chemistry in sensing have driven the aryldiazonium salt-based sensing strategies to grow at an astonishing pace. This review focuses on the advances in the use of aryldiazonium salts for modifying interfaces in sensors and biosensors during the past decade. It will first summarize the current methods for modification of interfaces with aryldiazonium salts, and then discuss the sensing applications of aryldiazonium salts modified on different transducers (bulky solid electrodes, nanomaterials modified bulky solid electrodes, and nanoparticles). Finally, the challenges and perspectives that aryldiazonium salt chemistry is facing in sensing applications are critically discussed.

Covalent Functionalization of Organic Nanoparticles Using Aryl Diazonium Chemistry and Their Solvent-Dependent Self-Assembly

A simple method for covalent functionalization of Fréchet-type dendron nanoparticles (FDNs) using tris-bipyridylruthenium(II) is described. Covalent functionalization is achieved by chemically reducing the diazo derivative of a ruthenium(II)bipyridine complex in the presence of FDNs wherein the radical species generated gets covalently linked to the nanoparticle surface. Simplicity, rapidity, and robustness are the advantages offered by the present approach. The nanoparticles, post functionalization, were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and infrared, energy-dispersive X-ray, UV-visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. Depending on the solvent, the ruthenium complex-linked FDN displays a range of morphologies, including nanoparticles, fiber-networks, and nanocapsules. In the nanocapsules and fiber-networks observed in organic solvents, the ruthenium complex is confined within the interior domain of the aggregate, whereas in the nanoparticles observed in water, it is present on the periphery. The formation of predictable morphologies in different solvents plays a key role in using such self-assembled structures for various applications such as sensing, catalysis, and light harvesting. Characterization of these nanoaggregates using different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques is also described.

4-Nitrobenzene Grafted in Porous Silicon: Application to Optical Lithography

In this work, we report a method to process porous silicon to improve its chemical resistance to alkaline solution attacks based on the functionalization of the pore surface by the electrochemical reduction of 4-nitrobenzendiazonium salt. This method provides porous silicon with strong resistance to the etching solutions used in optical lithography and allows the fabrication of tailored metallic contacts on its surface. The samples were studied by chemical, electrochemical, and morphological methods. We demonstrate that the grafted samples show a resistance to harsh alkaline solution more than three orders of magnitude larger than that of pristine porous silicon, being mostly unmodified after about 40 min. The samples maintained open pores after the grafting, making them suitable for further treatments like filling by polymers. Optical lithography was performed on the functionalized samples, and electrochemical characterization results are shown.

Aryl Diazonium Chemistry for the Surface Functionalization of Glassy Biosensors

Nanostring resonator and fiber-optics-based biosensors are of interest as they offer high sensitivity, real-time measurements and the ability to integrate with electronics. However, these devices are somewhat impaired by issues related to surface modification. Both nanostring resonators and photonic sensors employ glassy materials, which are incompatible with electrochemistry. A surface chemistry approach providing strong and stable adhesion to glassy surfaces is thus required. In this work, a diazonium salt induced aryl film grafting process is employed to modify a novel SiCN glassy material. Sandwich rabbit IgG binding assays are performed on the diazonium treated SiCN surfaces. Fluorescently labelled anti-rabbit IgG and anti-rabbit IgG conjugated gold nanoparticles were used as markers to demonstrate the absorption of anti-rabbit IgG and therefore verify the successful grafting of the aryl film. The results of the experiments support the effectiveness of diazonium chemistry for the surface functionalization of SiCN surfaces. This method is applicable to other types of glassy materials and potentially can be expanded to various nanomechanical and optical biosensors.

Versatile surface micropatterning and functionalization enabled by microcontact printing of poly(4-aminostyrene)

Microcontact printing (μCP) of polyelectrolytes is a facile and powerful method for surface micro/nanopatterning and functionalization. Poly(4-aminostyrene) (PAS) is a polyelectrolyte that can be converted to aryldiazonium salt and exhibits pH-dependent hydrophobicity. Here we demonstrate μCP of PAS and the expansion of this technique in various directions. First, the microcontact-printed PAS can be diazotized to micropattern biomolecules including DNA and protein and nanomaterials including single-walled carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles. Second, the diazotized PAS enables μCP of a metallic structure on a carbon surface. Third, the hydrophobic nature of PAS at the neutral pH allows the microcontact-printed PAS-based polyelectrolyte multilayer to be used as masks for wet etching. Lastly, this technique allows facile fabrication of highly engineered microparticles with a unique structure. Overall, this work has established a novel μCP platform with various potential applications.