Characterization of Carbon/Nitroazobenzene/Titanium Molecular Electronic Junctions with Photoelectron and Raman Spectroscopy

Electro-polymerization rates of diazonium salts are dependent on the crystal orientation of the surface

Electro-polymerization of diazonium salts is widely used for modifying surfaces with thin organic films. Initially this method was primarily applied to carbon, then to metals, and more recently to semiconducting Si. Unlike on other surfaces, electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts on Si, which is one of the most industrially dominant material, is not well understood. Here, we report the electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts on a range of silicon electrodes of different crystal orientations (111, 211, 311, 411, and 100). We show that the kinetics of surface reaction and the reduction potential is Si crystal-facet dependent and is more favorable in the hierarchical order (111) > (211) > (311) > (411) > (100), a finding that offers control over the surface chemistry of diazonium salts on Si. The dependence of the surface reaction kinetics on the crystal orientation was found to be directly related to differences in the potential of zero charge (PZC) of each crystal orientation, which in turn controls the adsorption of the diazonium cations prior to reduction. Another consequence of the effect of PZC on the adsorption of diazonium cations, is that molecules terminated by distal diazonium moieties form a compact film in less time and requires less reduction potentials compared to that formed from diazonium molecules terminated by only one diazo moiety. In addition, at higher concentrations of diazonium cations, the mechanism of electrochemical polymerization on the surface becomes PZC-controlled adsorption-dominated inner-sphere electron transfer while at lower concentrations, diffusion-based outer-sphere electron transfer dominates. These findings help understanding the electro-polymerization reaction of diazonium salts on Si en route towards an integrated molecular and Si electronics technology.

Nanoscale Melting of 3D Confined Azopolymers through Tunable Thermoplasmonics

Phase transitions that are thermally induced by using light at the nanoscale play a vital role in material science. Enhanced optical heating sustained by resonant nanostructures can turn out to be insignificant when a higher thermal conductivity of a heatsink, regardless of the pumping intensity. In this Letter, we demonstrate an approach to control an operating temperature range due to excess heating of a structured heatsink. A design rationale has been performed by using a 2D array of TiN:Si voxels, consisting of stacked TiN and Si pillars. All the TiN nanoheaters responsible for enhanced light absorption at plasmon resonance are of equal size, and the height of the Si pillars varies to control heat localization. A height-dependent temperature rise of the Si pillars is found from Raman thermometry. Herein, for the first time, we have determined the melting temperature of azobenzene-functionalized polymers at the nanoscale using the tunable plasmonic metasurface.

Single Molecules in Strong Optical Fields: A Variable-Temperature Molecular Junction Spectroscopy Setup

In order to advance the development of molecular electronic devices, it is mandatory to improve the understanding of electron transport and functionalities in single molecules, integrated in a well-defined environment. However, limited information can be obtained by solely analyzing I-V characteristics, whence multiparameter studies are required to obtain more information on such systems including chemical bonds, geometry, and intramolecular strain. Therefore, we developed an analytical method incorporating an optical near-field technique, which allows us to investigate single-molecule junctions at variable temperatures in strong optical fields. An apertureless near-field emitter acts as a counter electrode and a plasmonic waveguide to focus surface plasmon polaritons into the molecular junctions, where a strongly enhanced evanescent field is confined to only a few nanometers around the apex of the tip. The proof of concept, even at low temperatures, is demonstrated by simultaneously investigating electronic and optical features of the molecule p-terphenyl-4,4″-dithiol in dependence of its charge state. This multichannel method can be employed to analyze a variety of nearly unexplored properties in single-molecule junctions such as photoconductance and photocurrent generation and allows a characterization of the molecular junctions by spectroscopic means as well.

Extent of conjugation in diazonium-derived layers in molecular junction devices determined by experiment and modelling

This paper shows that molecular layers grown using diazonium chemistry on carbon surfaces have properties indicative of the presence of a variety of structural motifs. Molecular layers grown with aromatic monomers with thickness between 1 and ∼15 nm display optical absorption spectra with significant broadening but no change in band gap or onsets of absorption as a function of layer thickness. This suggests that there is no extended conjugation in these layers, contrary to the conclusions of previous work. Density-functional theory modelling of the non-conjugated versions of the constituent aromatic monomers reveals that the experimental trends in optical spectra can be recovered, thereby establishing limits to the degree of conjugation and the nature of the order of as-grown molecular layers. We conclude that the absence of both shifts in band gap and changes in absorption onset is a consequence of resonant conjugation within the layers being less than 1.5 monomer units, and that film disorder is the main origin of the optical spectra. These findings have important implications for understanding charge transport mechanisms in molecular junction devices, as the layers cannot be expected to behave as ideal, resonantly conjugated films, but should be viewed as a collection of mixed nonresonantly- and resonantly-conjugated monomers.

Sorption of Non-ionic Aromatic Organics to Mineral Micropores: Interactive Effect of Cation Hydration and Mineral Charge Density

The influence of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ on the sorption of non-ionic aromatic contaminants (1,4-dinitrobenzene and p-xylene) on a series of microporous zeolite minerals (HZSM-5) with various surface charge densities was investigated. For zeolites with high or low charge density (>1.78 or <0.16 sites/nm²), K⁺ and Ca²⁺ had negligible influence on the sorption of organics, which mainly occurred at the hydrophobic nanosites. For zeolites with charge density in the moderate range (0.16-1.78 sites/nm²), the sorption of organics was strongly dependent upon the cation hydration effect. K⁺ with a lower hydration free energy greatly favored sorption of organics to the micropores compared to Ca²⁺. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicated that K⁺ can reduce the water affinity and promote specific sorption of organics in the zeolites with moderate charge density. The above mechanisms were successfully applied to explain the retention of 1,4-dinitrobenzene and p-xylene on four natural minerals (smectite, illite, kaolinite, and mordenite). This study shed new insights on how cation hydration influences sorption interactions of non-ionic aromatic contaminants at mineral-water interfaces as a function of the mineral charge density.

Nanometric building blocks for robust multifunctional molecular junctions

Much of the motivation for developing molecular electronic devices is the prospect of achieving novel electronic functions by varying molecular structure. We describe a "building block" approach for molecular junctions resulting in one, two or three nanometer-thick molecular layers in a commercially proven junction design. A single layer of anthraquinone between carbon electrodes provides a tunnel device with applications in electronic music, and a second layer of a thiophene derivative yields a molecular rectifier with quite different audio characteristics. A third layer of lithium benzoate produces a redox-active device with possible applications in non-volatile memory devices or on-chip energy storage. The building block approach forms a basis for "rational design" of electronic functions, in which layers of varying structure produce distinct and desirable electronic behaviours.

Near-field Raman dichroism of azo-polymers exposed to nanoscale dc electrical and optical poling

Azobenzene-functionalized polymer films are functional materials, where the (planar vs. homeotropic) orientation of azo-dyes can be used for storing data. In order to characterize the nanoscale 3D orientation of the pigments in sub-10 nm thick polymer films we use two complementary techniques: polarization-controlled tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) microscopy and contact scanning capacity microscopy. We demonstrate that the homeotropic and planar orientations of the azo-dyes are produced by applying a local dc electrical field and a resonant longitudinal optical near-field, respectively. For a non-destructive probe of the azo-dye orientation we apply a non-resonant optical near-field and compare the intensities of the Raman-active vibrational modes. We show that near-field Raman dichroism, a characteristic similar to the absorption dichroism used in far-field optics, can be a quantitative indicator of the 3D molecular orientation of the azo-dye at the nanoscale. This study directly benefits the further development of photochromic near-field optical memory that can lead to ultrahigh density information storage.

Controlling formation of single-molecule junctions by electrochemical reduction of diazonium terminal groups

We report controlling the formation of single-molecule junctions by means of electrochemically reducing two axialdiazonium terminal groups on a molecule, thereby producing direct Au-C covalent bonds in situ between the molecule and gold electrodes. We report a yield enhancement in molecular junction formation as the electrochemical potential of both junction electrodes approach the reduction potential of the diazonium terminal groups. Step length analysis shows that the molecular junction is significantly more stable, and can be pulled over a longer distance than a comparable junction created with amine anchoring bonds. The stability of the junction is explained by the calculated lower binding energy associated with the direct Au-C bond compared with the Au-N bond.

Elucidation of the mechanism of redox grafting of diazotated anthraquinone

Redox grafting of aryldiazonium salts containing redox units may be used to form exceptionally thick covalently attached conducting films, even in the micrometers range, in a controlled manner on glassy carbon and gold substrates. With the objective to investigate the mechanism of this process in detail, 1-anthraquinone (AQ) redox units were immobilized on these substrates by electroreduction of 9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-1-diazonium tetrafluoroborate. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance was employed to follow the grafting process during a cyclic voltammetric sweep by recording the frequency change. The redox grafting is shown to have two mass gain regions/phases: an irreversible one due to the addition of AQ units to the substrate/film and a reversible one due to the association of cations from the supporting electrolyte with the AQ radical anions formed during the sweeping process. Scanning electrochemical microscopy was used to study the relationship between the conductivity of the film and the charging level of the AQ redox units in the grafted film. For that purpose, approach curves were recorded at a platinum ultramicroelectrode for AQ-containing films on gold and glassy carbon surfaces using the ferro/ferricyanide redox system as redox probe. It is concluded that the film growth has its origin in electron transfer processes occurring through the layer mediated by the redox moieties embedded in the organic film.

Redox grafting of diazotated anthraquinone as a means of forming thick conducting organic films

Thick conductive layers containing anthraquinone moieties are covalently immobilized on gold using redox grafting of the diazonium salt of anthraquinone (i.e., 9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-1-diazonium tetrafluoroborate). This grafting procedure is based on using consecutive voltammetric sweeping and through this exploiting fast electron transfer reactions that are mediated by the anthraquinone redox moieties in the film. The fast film growth, which is followed by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and coverage calculation, results in a mushroom-like structure. In addition to varying the number of sweeps, layer thickness control can easily be exerted through appropriate choice of the switching potential and sweep rate. It is shown that the grafting of the diazonium salt is essentially a diffusion-controlled process but also that desorption of physisorbed material during the sweeping process is essentially for avoiding blocking of the film due to clogging of the electrolyte channels in the film. In general, sweep rates higher than 0.5 V s(-1) are required if thick, porous, and conducting films should be formed.

Analytical chemistry in molecular electronics

This review discusses the analytical characterization of molecular electronic devices and structures relevant thereto. In particular, we outline the methods for probing molecular junctions, which contain an ensemble of molecules between two contacts. We discuss the analytical methods that aid in the fabrication and characterization of molecular junctions, beginning with the confirmation of the placement of a molecular layer on a conductive or semiconductive substrate. We emphasize methods that provide information about the molecular layer in the junction and outline techniques to ensure molecular layer integrity after the complete fabrication of a device. In addition, we discuss the analytical information derived during the actual device operation.

Microfabrication and integration of diazonium-based aromatic molecular junctions

Microfabrication techniques common in commercial semiconductor manufacturing were used to produce carbon/nitroazobenzene/Cu/Au molecular junctions with a range of areas from 3×3 to 400×400 μm, starting with 100-mm-diameter silicon wafers. The approach exhibited high yield (90-100%) and excellent reproducibility of the current density (relative standard deviation of typically 15%) and 32 devices on a chip. Electron-beam-deposited carbon films are introduced as substrates and may be applied at the full wafer level before dicing and electrochemical deposition of the molecular layer. The current scaled with the device area over a factor of >600, and the current density was quantitatively consistent with structurally similar molecular junctions made by other techniques. The current densities were weakly dependent on temperature over the range of 100-390 K, and maximum current densities above 400 A/cm2 were observed without breakdown. To simulate processing and operation conditions, the junction stability was tested at elevated temperatures. The JV curves of microfabricated junctions were unchanged after 22 h at 100 °C. A ∼50% increase in the current density was observed after 20 h at 150 °C but then remained constant for an additional 24 h. Parallel fabrication, thermal stability, and high yield are required for practical applications of molecular electronics, and the reported results provide important steps toward integration of molecular electronic devices with commercial processes and devices.

'Soft' Au, Pt and Cu contacts for molecular junctions through surface-diffusion-mediated deposition

Virtually all types of molecular electronic devices depend on electronically addressing a molecule or molecular layer through the formation of a metallic contact. The introduction of molecular devices into integrated circuits will probably depend on the formation of contacts using a vapour deposition technique, but this approach frequently results in the metal atoms penetrating or damaging the molecular layer. Here, we report a method of forming 'soft' metallic contacts on molecular layers through surface-diffusion-mediated deposition, in which the metal atoms are deposited remotely and then diffuse onto the molecular layer, thus eliminating the problems of penetration and damage. Molecular junctions fabricated by this method exhibit excellent yield (typically >90%) and reproducibility, and allow examination of the effects of molecular-layer structure, thickness and contact work function.

Progress with molecular electronic junctions: meeting experimental challenges in design and fabrication

Molecular electronics seeks to incorporate molecular components as functional elements in electronic devices. There are numerous strategies reported to date for the fabrication, design, and characterization of such devices, but a broadly accepted example showing structure-dependent conductance behavior has not yet emerged. This progress report focuses on experimental methods for making both single-molecule and ensemble molecular junctions, and highlights key results from these efforts. Based on some general objectives of the field, particular experiments are presented to show progress in several important areas, and also to define those areas that still need attention. Some of the variable behavior of ostensibly similar junctions reported in the literature is attributable to differences in the way the junctions are fabricated. These differences are due, in part, to the multitude of methods for supporting the molecular layer on the substrate, including methods that utilize physical adsorption and covalent bonds, and to the numerous strategies for making top contacts. After discussing recent experimental progress in molecular electronics, an assessment of the current state of the field is presented, along with a proposed road map that can be used to assess progress in the future.

Structure of the buried metal-molecule interface in organic thin film devices

By use of specular X-ray reflectivity (XR) the structure of a metal-covered organic thin film device is measured with angstrom resolution. The model system is a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film, sandwiched between a silicon substrate and a top electrode consisting of 25 A titanium and 100 A aluminum. By comparison of XR data for the five-layer Pb2+ arachidate LB film before and after vapor deposition of the Ti/Al top electrode, a detailed account of the structural damage to the organic film at the buried metal-molecule interface is obtained. We find that the organized structure of the two topmost LB layers (approximately 5 nm) is completely destroyed due to the metal deposition.

Optical interference effects in the design of substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

This paper presents results showing that the design of substrates used for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can impact the apparent enhancement factors (EFs) obtained due to optical interference effects that are distinct from SERS, providing additional enhancement of the Raman intensity. Thus, a combination of SERS and a substrate designed to maximize interference-based enhancement is demonstrated to give additional Raman intensity above that observed for SERS alone. The system explored is 4-nitroazobenzene (NAB) and biphenyl (BP) chemisorbed on a nanostructured silver film obtained by vacuum deposition of Ag on thermally oxidized silicon wafers. The enhancing silver layer is partially transparent, enabling a standing wave to form as a result of the combination of the incident light and light reflected from the underlying Si substrate (i.e., light that passes through the Ag and the intervening dielectric layer of SiO(x)). The Raman intensity is measured as a function of the thickness of the thermal oxide layer in the range from approximately 150 to approximately 400 nm, and despite a lack of morphological variation in the silver films, there is a strong dependence of the Raman intensity on the oxide thickness. The Raman signal for the optimal SiO(x) interlayer thickness is 38 times higher than the intensity obtained when the Ag particles are deposited directly onto Si (with native oxide). To account for the trends observed in the Raman intensity versus thickness data, calculations of the relative mean square electric field (MSEF) at the surface of the SiO(x) are carried out. These calculations are also used to further optimize the experimental setup.

Molecular electronics using diazonium-derived adlayers on carbon with Cu top contacts: critical analysis of metal oxides and filaments

Evaporation of Cu metal onto thin (less than 5 nm) molecular layers bonded to conductive carbon substrates results in electronic junctions with an ensemble of molecules sandwiched between two conductors. The resulting devices have previously been characterized through analysis of current density-voltage (j-V) curves for several different molecular layers and as a function of layer thickness. The approach represents an 'ensemble' rather than 'single molecule' technique, in which the electronic response represents that of a large number of molecules (10(6)-10(12)) in parallel as well as the conducting contacts contained in the molecular junction. In this paper, we extend a more detailed investigation of two critical issues: the possibility of conduction by metal filaments, and the potential role of top contact oxidation contributing to the electronic properties of the junctions. The results show that the conductance of the junctions can be modulated by changes in the deposition environment, but that the changes are not related to Cu oxide in the top contact. Based on these results, we propose that the conditions during top contact deposition change the way in which the molecules contact the metal, leading to differences in the effective junction area. Finally, through systematic studies using variation of the temperature, we show that metal filament conduction is distinct from that observed for the molecular junctions and that if the current observed experimentally passed through nanoscopic metal filaments the Joule heating would lead to rapid melting. For a series of junctions with structurally related aromatic molecules (including biphenyl, nitrobiphenyl, fluorene, and nitroazobenzene), the electron transfer mechanism is briefly investigated using area-independent analysis methods. It is shown that field emission and/or transport through bands formed by the molecular layer is likely, based on the weak temperature dependence of junction conductance.

Modification of carbon electrode with aryl groups having an aliphatic amine by electrochemical reduction of in situ generated diazonium cations

The electrochemically induced functionalization of glassy carbon electrode by aryl groups having an aliphatic amine group was achieved by reduction of in situ generated diazonium cations in aqueous media. The corresponding diazonium cations of 4-aminobenzylamine, 2-aminobenzylamine, 4-(2-aminoethyl)aniline, N-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine, and N, N-dimethyl- p-phenylenediamine were generated in situ with sodium nitrite in aqueous HCl. The kinetics of electrochemical grafting were investigated with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements (with carbon-coated quartz crystal), and the barrier properties of the grafted layers were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry in the presence of electroactive redox probes such as Fe(CN)6 3-/4- and Ru(NH 3)6 (3+). The grafting efficiency of aryl groups was found to depend on the nature of the amine (primary, secondary, and tertiary), the chain length of the alkyl substituent, and the substitution position on the aromatic ring. The nitrosation of the "aliphatic" amine, in the case of secondary and tertiary amines, was also evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Ultraviolet-visible spectroelectrochemistry of chemisorbed molecular layers on optically transparent carbon electrodes

Pyrolysis of diluted commercial photoresist spun onto quartz slides yields optically transparent graphitic films. Transparent carbon electrodes approximately 6 nm thick can be reproducibly prepared, with a maximum absorbance in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) range of 0.25 at 270 nm. These electrodes are sufficiently conductive for electrochemistry, enabling modification of the surface via diazonium ion reduction and spectroelectrochemistry. Good quality ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra of covalently bonded molecular layers of nitroazobenzene, nitrobiphenyl, and azobenzene, with thicknesses of 1.4-4 nm, were obtained after subtracting the spectrum of the unmodified substrate. The spectra of all three molecules immobilized on the carbon surface showed red shifts of the absorption maxima relative to a solution of free molecules, indicating substantial electronic interactions between chemisorbed molecules and the Pi system of the substrate and/or intermolecular coupling. Spectroelectrochemical measurements show that reduction of free and chemisorbed molecules produce new absorption features in the 500-800 nm range; these spectral changes are partially reversible upon repeated potential cycling. Finally, density functional calculations correlate the new bands to the formation of anion radical or "methide" species that have more extensive electron delocalization than the parent molecules. The results from this work are useful for linking structural transformations in molecular layers "buried" under conductive top contacts in a type of molecular junction to changes in the electronic properties of the junction.

Normal and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of nitroazobenzene submonolayers and multilayers on carbon and silver surfaces

Raman and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra were obtained for nitroazobenzene (NAB) chemisorbed on smooth and rough silver, and they were compared to published spectra for NAB on sp(2) hybridized pyrolyzed photoresist film (PPF) surfaces. High signal-to-noise ratio Raman spectra were obtained for 4.5 nm thick NAB films on PPF and smooth Ag due to significant enhancement of the NAB scattering relative to that observed in solution. The UV-Vis spectra of chemisorbed NAB exhibited a significant shift toward longer wavelength, thus bringing the NAB absorption closer to the 514.5 nm laser wavelength. The red shift was larger for PPF than for smooth Ag, consistent with the approximately 5x stronger Raman signal obtained on PPF. Deposition of Ag onto quartz without a chromium adhesion layer produced a rough Ag surface that enhanced the Raman spectrum of chemisorbed NAB by a factor of approximately 1000, as expected for roughened Ag due to electromagnetic field enhancement. The strong Raman signal permitted observation of NAB at low coverage and revealed changes in the NAB spectrum as the film progressed from submonolayer to multilayer thicknesses. Finally, deposition of Ag onto PPF/NAB samples through a metal grid produced Ag squares on top of the NAB, which enhanced the Raman scattering of the NAB layer by a factor of approximately 100. Deposition of a final conducting film on the Ag squares should permit in situ observation of a wide range of molecules in operating molecular electronic junctions.

Redox-driven conductance switching via filament formation and dissolution in carbon/molecule/TiO2/Ag molecular electronic junctions

Carbon/molecule/TiO2/Au molecular electronic junctions show robust conductance switching, in which a metastable high conductance state may be induced by a voltage pulse which results in redox reactions in the molecular and TiO2 layers. When Ag is substituted for Au as the "top contact", dramatically different current/voltage curves and switching behavior result. When the carbon substrate is biased negative, an apparent breakdown occurs, leading to a high conductance state which is stable for at least several hours. Upon scanning to positive bias, the conductance returns to a low state, and the cycle may be repeated hundreds of times. Similar effects are observed when Cu is substituted for Au and for three different molecular layers as well as "control" junctions of the type carbon/TiO2/Ag/Au. The polarity of the "switching" is reversed when the Ag layer is between the carbon and molecular layers, and the conductance change is suppressed at low temperature. Pulse experiments show very erratic transitions between high and low conductivity states, particularly near the switching threshold. The results are consistent with a switching mechanism based on Ag or Cu oxidation, transport of their ions through the TiO2, and reduction at the carbon to form a metal filament.

An FT-IRRAS study of nitrophenyl mono- and multilayers electro-deposited on gold by reduction of the diazonium salt

Formation of an organometallic junction by direct bonding of 4-nitrobenzene monolayer on gold surface by diazonium chemistry has been demonstrated by Fourier transform reflection-absorption spectroscopy with s- and p-polarized radiation.

Preparation and characterization of diethylene glycol bis(2-aminophenyl) ether-modified glassy carbon electrode

Diethylene glycol bis(2-aminophenyl) ether (DGAE) diazonium salt was covalently electrografted on a glassy carbon (GC) surface and behavior of this novel surface was investigated. Synthesis of DGAE diazonium salt (DGAE-DAS) and in situ modification of GC electrode were performed in aqueous media containing NaNO2, keeping the temperature below +4 degrees C. For the characterization of the modified electrode surface by cyclic voltammetry, dopamine (DA) was used to prove the attachment of the DGAE-DAS on the GC surface. Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to observe the molecular bound properties of the adsorbates at the DGAE-modified GC surface (GC-DGAE). The EIS results were analyzed using the Randles equivalent circuit. The charge transfer resistance on bare GC and the modified surface were calculated using the model equivalent circuit for the ferrocene redox system. Surface coverage was found as 0.4 showing the presence of high pinhole and defects in the modified electrode. The rate constant of electron transfer through the monolayer was calculated for ferrocene. Working potential range and the stability of the DGAE-modified GC electrode was also determined.

Infrared Spectroscopic Characterization of [2]Rotaxane Molecular Switch Tunnel Junction Devices

Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of a bistable [2]rotaxane were prepared at packing densities of 118, 73, and 54 A(2)/molecule. The monolayers were both characterized via infrared spectroscopy before and after evaporation of a 2 nm film of titanium and incorporated into molecular switch tunnel junction devices. The study suggests that the evaporation process primarily affects portions of the molecule exposed to the metal atom source. Thus, in tightly packed monolayers (73 and 54 A(2)/molecule), only the portions of the [2]rotaxane that are present at the molecule/air interface are clearly affected, leaving key functionality necessary for switching intact. Monolayers transferred at a lower pressure (118 A(2)/molecule) exhibit nonspecific damage and poor switching behavior following Ti deposition. These results indicate that tightly packed monolayers and sacrificial functionality displayed at the molecule/air interface are important design principles for molecular electronic devices.

Determination of the Structure and Orientation of Organic Molecules Tethered to Flat Graphitic Carbon by ATR-FT-IR and Raman Spectroscopy

Mono- and multilayers of nitroazobenzene (NAB), azobenzene (AB), nitrobiphenyl (NBP), biphenyl (BP), and fluorene (FL) were covalently bonded to flat pyrolyzed photoresist films (PPF) by electrochemical reduction of their diazonium derivatives. The structure and orientation of the molecular layers were probed with ATR-FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. A hemispherical germanium ATR element used with p-polarized light at 65 degrees incidence angle yielded high signal/noise IR spectra for monolayer coverage of molecules on PPF. The IR spectra are dominated by in-plane vibrational modes in the 1000-2000-cm(-1) spectral range but also exhibit weaker out-of-plane deformations in the 650-1000-cm(-1) region. The average tilt angle with respect to the surface normal for the various molecules varied from 31.0 +/- 4.5 degrees for NAB to 44.2 +/- 5.4 degrees for FL with AB, NBP, and BP exhibiting intermediate adsorption geometries. Raman intensity ratios of NAB and AB for p- and s-polarized incident light support the conclusion that the chemisorbed molecules are in a predominantly upright orientation. The results unequivocally indicate that molecules electroreduced from their diazonium precursors are not chemisorbed flat on the PPF surface, but rather at an angle, similar to the behavior of Au/thiol self-assembled monolayers, Langmuir-Blodgett films, and porphyrin molecules chemisorbed thermally on silicon and PPF from alkyne and alkene precursors.

Surface modification of indium tin oxide via electrochemical reduction of aryldiazonium cations

The facile deposition of para-substituted aryl films onto indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes by the electrochemical reduction of aryl diazonium salts in acetonitrile is reported. For the deposition conditions used in this report, the aryl film thicknesses are on the order of 1-6 nm, suggesting a multilayer structure. Regardless of the functional group on the aryl diazonium cation, (NO(2), CO(2)H, or fluorene) the electrodeposition behavior onto ITO electrodes is similar to that seen on other electrode materials. XPS and UV-vis data support the introduction of organic functional surface groups to ITO. The blocking behavior of the aryl films on ITO toward the Ru(NH(3))(6)(3+/2+) redox couple is in agreement with electron transfer through conjugated organic layers. The facile preparation of patterned aryl films with regular-spaced 700 nm voids on ITO is also described. Atomic force microscopy and scanning surface potential microscopy on patterned NO(2) aryl films are used to assess the molecular structure and orientation. A 100 mV decrease in the contact potential over NO(2) aryl films relative to bare ITO suggests that the aryl films are loosely structured as deposited with the NO(2) groups oriented at a small angle away from the ITO surface.