In situ scanning tunneling microscopy of 1,6-hexanedithiol, 1,9-nonanedithiol, 1,2-benzenedithiol, and 1,3-benzenedithiol adsorbed on pt(111) electrodes

Controlling Catalytic Selectivity via Adsorbate Orientation on the Surface: From Furfural Deoxygenation to Reactions of Epoxides

Specificity to desired reaction products is the key challenge in designing solid catalysts for reactions involving addition or removal of oxygen to/from organic reactants. This challenge is especially acute for reactions involving multifunctional compounds such as biomass-derived aromatic molecules (e.g., furfural) and functional epoxides (e.g., 1-epoxy-3-butene). Recent surface-level studies have shown that there is a relationship between adsorbate surface orientation and reaction selectivity in the hydrogenation pathways of aromatic oxygenates and the ring-opening or ring-closing pathways of epoxides. Control of the orientation of reaction intermediates on catalytic surfaces by modifying the surface or near-surface environment has been shown to be a promising method of affecting catalytic selectivity for reactions of multifunctional molecules. In this Perspective, we review recent model studies aimed at understanding the surface chemistry for these reactions and studies that utilize this insight to rationally design supported catalysts.

Going beyond the self-assembled monolayer: metal intercalated dithiol multilayers and their conductance

A study of the configuration and the conductivity of the self-assembly of silver intercalated dithiol (DTT) monolayers and multilayers on gold is presented.

In situ STM imaging of bis-3-sodiumsulfopropyl-disulfide molecules adsorbed on copper film electrodeposited on Pt(111) single crystal electrode

The adsorption of bis-3-sodiumsulfopropyldi-sulfide (SPS) on metal electrodes in chloride-containing media has been intensively studied to unveil its accelerating effect on Cu electrodeposition. Molecular resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging technique was used in this study to explore the adsorption and decomposition of SPS molecules concurring with the electrodeposition of copper on an ordered Pt(111) electrode in 0.1 M HClO(4) + 1 mM Cu(ClO(4))(2) + 1 mM KCl. Depending on the potential of Pt(111), SPS molecules could react, adsorb, and decompose at chloride-capped Cu films. A submonolayer of Cu adatoms classified as the underpotential deposition (UPD) layer at 0.4 V (vs Ag/AgCl) was completely displaced by SPS molecules, possibly occurring via RSSR (SPS) + Cl-Cu-Pt → RS(-)-Pt(+) + RS(-) (MPS) + Cu(2+) + Cl(-), where MPS is 3-mercaptopropanesulfonate. By contrast, at 0.2 V, where a full monolayer of Cu was presumed to be deposited, SPS molecules were adsorbed in local (4 × 4) structures at the lower ends of step ledges. Bulk Cu deposition driven by a small overpotential (η < 50 mV) proceeded slowly to yield an atomically smooth Cu deposit at the very beginning (<5 layers). On a bilayer Cu deposit, the chloride adlayer was still adsorbed to afford SPS admolecules arranged in a unique 1D striped phase. SPS molecules could decompose into MPS upon further Cu deposition, as a (2 × 2)-MPS structure was observed with prolonged in situ STM imaging. It was possible to visualize either SPS admolecules in the upper plane or chloride adlayer sitting underneath upon switching the imaging conditions. Overall, this study established a MPS molecular film adsorbed to the chloride adlayer sitting atop the Cu deposit.

Self-assembly of 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol self-assembled monolayers on gold

A study of the self-assembly of 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDMT; HS-CH(2)-(C(6)H(4))-CH(2)-SH) monolayers on gold is presented. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are characterized by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements. The ensemble of measurements consistently shows that well-organized BDMT SAMs, with "standing-up" molecules, can be obtained on high quality gold films with incubation in n-hexane provided that N(2)-degassed solutions are used and all preparation steps are performed at 60 degrees C in the absence of ambient light. SE data indicate that the optical interface properties of the BDMT-Au system are different from those of simple alkanethiol SAMs. A possible mechanism for the formation of the "standing-up" phase from the lying-down phase via a hydrogen exchange reaction involving chemisorbed lying-down and free dithiol molecules is discussed.

Self-assembly of alkanedithiols on Au(111) from solution: effect of chain length and self-assembly conditions

A comparative study on the adsorption of buthanedithiol (BDT), hexanedithiol (HDT), and nonanedithiol (NDT) on Au(111) from ethanolic and n-hexane solutions and two different preparation procedures is presented. SAM characterization is based on reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy, electrochemistry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time of flight direct recoil spectroscopy. Results indicate that one can obtain a standing-up phase of dithiols and that the amount of the precursor lying-down phase decreases from BDT to NDT, irrespective of the solvent and self-assembly conditions. A good ordering of the hydrocarbon chains in the standing-up configuration is observed for HDT and NDT when the system is prepared in degassed n-hexane with all operations carried out in the dark. Disulfide bridges at the free SH terminal groups are formed for HDT and to a lesser extent for NDT prepared in ethanol in the presence of oxygen, but we found no evidence of ordered multilayer formation in our experiments. No disulfides were observed for BDT that only forms the lying-down phase. Our results demonstrate the key role of the chain length and the procedure (solvent nature and oxygen presence) in controlling the surface structure and chemistry of SAMs dithiols on Au(111).

3-Mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid and Bis(3-sulfopropyl) disulfide adsorbed on Au(111): in situ scanning tunneling microscopy and electrochemical studies

3-Mercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid (MPS) and bis(3-sulfopropyl) disulfide (SPS) adsorbed on a Au(111) electrode were studied by using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Although the adsorptions of MPS and SPS are known to be oxidative and reductive, respectively, on an Au(111) electrode, these two admolecules behave similarly in terms of phase evolution, surface coverage, potential for stripping, and characteristics of cyclic voltammetry. However, different adsorption mechanisms of these molecules result in different structures. Raising electrode potential causes more MPS and SPS molecules to adsorb, yielding ordered adlattices between 0.67 and 0.8 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode). The ordered adlattices of MPS and SPS appear as striped and netlike structures with molecules adsorbed parallel to the Au(111) surface. Switching potential to 0.9 V or more positive still does not result in upright molecular orientation, possibly inhibited by electrostatic interaction between the end group of -SO(3)(-) and the Au(111) electrode. Lowering the potential to 0.4 V disrupted the ordered adlayer. Stripping voltammetric experiments show that MPS and SPS admolecules are desorbed from Au(111) at the same potential, suggesting that these molecules are both adsorbed via their sulfur headgroups. The S-S bond in SPS is likely broken upon its adsorption on Au(111).

Assembly behavior and monolayer characteristics of OH-terminated alkanethiol on Au(111): in situ scanning tunneling microscopy and electrochemical studies

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MHO) on an Au(111) electrode were prepared in an electrochemical system. The adsorption behavior of MHO and the time-dependent organization of the SAM were investigated by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results show that a potential higher than 0.28 V (relative to RHE) is required to induce the adsorption of MHO. At 0.28 V, the MHO molecules adsorb in a flat-lying orientation, forming an ordered striped phase with a molecular arrangement of ([Formula: see text]). However, the adlayer is not stable at this potential. The adsorbed striped phase may recover to the herringbone feature of the gold substrate due to the desorption of adsorbed MHO. At a higher potential (0.35 V), the adlayer becomes stable and can undergo a phase evolution from the striped phase to a condensed structure, identified as c([Formula: see text]). This structure can also be described as a c(4 × 2) superlattice of a [Formula: see text] hexagonal adlattice. The surface coverage of the MHO SAM is identical to the saturated structure of an 11-mercapto-1-undecanol (MUO) SAM reported in a previous work, [Formula: see text]. However, the STM image of MHO adlayer shows a modulation in intensity, reflecting the presence of various conformations of adsorbed molecules. This result is attributed to the shorter chain length of MHO, which gives a weaker van der Waals interaction between adsorbed molecules. This effect also results in a higher charge permeability across the adlayer and a lower striping potential to an MHO SAM.