On sulfur core level binding energies in thiol self-assembly and alternative adsorption sites: An experimental and theoretical study

Counterion Loss from Charged Surface-Bound Complexes Drives the Formation of Loosely Packed Monolayers

The functionality of multicomponent self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) can be severely diminished by the segregation of like components into nanoscale domains, a process that maximizes favorable short-range intermolecular interactions. Here, we explore the use of a modular family of sulfur-functionalized metal bis(terpyridine) complexes ([M(tpy-R)2]2+(PF6-)2) to prepare mixed SAMs, considering that the comparable structure, dimensions, and ionic composition of these species should render them interchangeable within the adsorbed surface layer. While surface voltammetry experiments show that these SAMs do exhibit compositions representative of their assembly solutions, they also suggest, in line with previous reports, that adjacent complexes in the monolayer are separated by a gap of ∼ 1 nm. Remarkably, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies reveal no F 1s peak features that would confirm the proliferation of PF6- counterions on the surface. We propose that the loosely packed structure of these SAMs results from the loss or exchange of PF6- counterions, which introduces significant repulsive Coulomb interactions between the adsorbed 2+ charged complexes. The hypothesis is supported by an electrostatic model which indicates that these complexes should form close-packed SAMs if mobile counterions are present. First-principles calculations demonstrate that complex-counterion binding interactions are weakened by charge transfer to the gold substrate, suggesting that this may play an important role in the formation of such low-coverage SAMs. Together, this study raises important questions regarding the assembly, organization, and composition of charged SAMs and highlights new opportunities in the design of multicomponent monolayer assemblies with free volume, for example, to facilitate surface-based reactions or support molecular switches.

Structure and stability of 7-mercapto-4-methylcoumarin self-assembled monolayers on gold: an experimental and computational analysis

Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of 7-mercapto-4-methylcoumarin (MMC) on a flat gold surface were studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, reference-free grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXRF) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to determine the maximum monolayer density and to investigate the nature of the molecule/surface interface. In particular, the protonation state of the sulfur atom upon adsorption was analyzed, since some recent literature presented evidence for physisorbed thiols (preserving the S-H bond), unlike the common picture of chemisorbed thiyls (losing the hydrogen). MD with a specifically tailored force field was used to simulate either thiol or thiyl monolayers with increasing number of molecules, to determine the maximum dynamically stable densities. This result was refined by computing the monolayer chemical potential as a function of the density with the bennet acceptance ratio method, based again on MD simulations. The monolayer density was also measured with GIXRF, which provided the absolute quantification of the number of sulfur atoms in a dense self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on flat gold surfaces. The sulfur core level binding energies in the same monolayers were measured by XPS, fitting the recorded spectra with the binding energies proposed in the literature for free or adsorbed thiols and thiyls, to get insight on the nature of the molecular species present in the layer. The comparison of theoretical and experimental SAM densities, and the XPS analysis strongly support the picture of a monolayer formed by chemisorbed, dissociated thiyls.

First-Principles Estimation of Core Level Shifts for Hf, Ta, W, and Re

A simple first-principles approach is used to estimate the core level shifts observed in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the 4f electrons of Hf, Ta, W, and Re; these elements were selected because their 4f levels are relatively close to the Fermi energy. The approach is first tested by modeling the surface core level shifts of low-index surfaces of the four elemental metals, followed by its application to the well-studied material TaSe2 in the commensurate charge density wave (CDW) phase, where agreement with experimental data is found to be good, showing that this approach can yield insights into modifications of the CDW. Finally, unterminated surface core level shifts in the hypothetical MXene Ta3C2 are modeled, and the potential of XPS for the investigation of the surface termination of MXenes is demonstrated.

In-Situ Monitoring of Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification with QCM: Detecting Listeria monocytogenes

Functionalized DNA sequences are promising sensing elements to combine with transducers for bio-sensing specific target microbes. As an application example, this paper demonstrates in situ detection of loop-mediated isothermal amplification products by hybridizing them with thiolated-ssDNA covalently anchored on the electrodes of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). Such hybridization leads to a frequency signal, which is suitable for monitoring real-time LAMP amplification based on mass-sensing: it detects interactions between the complementary nucleobases of LAMP products in solution and the thiolated-ssDNA probe sequence on the gold surface. Target DNA LAMP products cause irreversible frequency shifts on the QCM surfaces during hybridization in the kHz range, which result from both changes in mass and charge on the electrode surface. In order to confirm the LAMP assay working in the QCM sensing system at elevated temperature, the sky blue of positive LAMP products solution was achieved by using the Hydroxy Naphthol Blue (HNB) and agarose gel electrophoresis. Since on-QCM sensing of DNA hybridization leads to irreversible sensor responses, this work shows characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) core spectra of S2p, N1s, Mg1s, P2p and C1s. XPS results confirmed that indeed both DNA and by-products of LAMP attached to the surface. Listeria monocytogenes DNA served to study in-situ detection of amplified LAMP products on DNA-functionalized surfaces.

Stimuli-Responsive Templated Polymer as a Target Receptor for a Conformation-based Electrochemical Sensing Platform

The use of highly crosslinked molecularly imprinted polymers as a synthetic target receptor has the limitations of restricted accessibility to the binding sites resulting in slow response time. Moreover, such artificial receptors often require additional transduction mechanisms to translate target binding events into measurable signals. Here, we propose the development of a single-chain stimuli-responsive templated polymer, without using any covalent interchain crosslinkers, as a target recognition element. The synthesized polymer chain exhibits preferential binding with the target molecule with which the polymer is templated. Moreover, upon specific target recognition, the polymer undergoes conformation change induced by its particular stimuli responsiveness, namely the target binding event. Such templated single-chain polymers can be attached to the electrode surface to implement a label-free electrochemical sensing platform. A target analyte, 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), was used as a template to synthesize a poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM)-based copolymer chain which was anchored to the electrode to be used as a selective receptor for 4-NP. The electrode surface chemistry analysis and the electrochemical impedance study reveal that the polymer concentration, the interchain interactions, and the Hofmeister effect play a major role in influencing the rate of polymer grafting as well as the morphology of the polymers grafted to the electrode. We also show that the specific binding between 4-NP and the copolymer results in a substantial change in the charge transfer kinetics at the electrode signifying the polymer conformation change.

Phase transition and thermal stability of epitaxial PtSe2 nanolayer on Pt(111)

This work relates to direct synthesis of the two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalchogenide (TMD) PtSe₂ using an original method based on chemical deposition during immersion of a Pt(111) surface into aqueous Na₂Se solution. Annealing of the sample induces significant modifications in the structural and electronic properties of the resulting PtSe₂ film. We report systematic investigations of temperature dependent phase transitions by combining synchrotron based high-resolution X-ray photoemission (XPS), low temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (LT-STM) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). From the STM images, a phase transition from TMD 2H-PtSe₂ to Pt₂Se alloy monolayer structure is observed, in agreement with the LEED patterns showing a transition from (4 × 4) to (√3 × √3)R30° and then to a (2 × 2) superstructure. This progressive evolution of the surface reconstruction has been monitored by XPS through systematic de-convolution of the Pt4f and Se3d core level peaks at different temperatures. The present work provides an alternative method for the large scale fabrication of 2D transition metal dichalchogenide films.

LEED, STM and XPS techniques were used to systematically study a temperature-dependent phase transition on a PtSe₂ film grown on the surface of Pt(111) by a chemical deposition method.

Moiré Structure of the 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole Corrosion Inhibitor Adsorbed on a (111)-Oriented Copper Surface

The adsorption of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (2-MBT) vapor on a Cu(111) surface under ultra-low pressure was investigated. For an exposure of 45 L at 150 °C, a Moiré pattern was observed as a result of the superposition of an underlying R30° structure and an outer layer compressed by 18% and rotated by 1.2°. The Moiré pattern was rich in S bonded to Cu as a result of molecular decomposition and partial desorption and was transformed to a R19.1° structure when the sample temperature was increased above 250 °C during deposition. This pre-adsorbed Moiré structure led to the sharp decrease of the oxidation kinetics, which better protects copper against corrosion than the non-ordered 2-MBT monolayer formed at room temperature. Upon further exposure to 2-MBT at room temperature, an equivalent monolayer of the molecule was adsorbed on the Moiré structure at saturation whereas a multilayer was formed for the direct deposition on Cu(111) at room temperature.

Exploration of the Interaction Strength at the Interface of Anionic Chalcogen Anchors and Gold (111)-Based Nanomaterials

Nowadays, the use of sulfur-based ligands to modify gold-based materials has become a common trend. Here, we present a theoretical exploration of the modulation of the chalcogenides-gold interaction strength, using sulfur, selenium, and tellurium as anchor atoms. To characterize the chalcogenide-gold interaction, we designed a nanocluster of 42 gold atoms (Au₄₂) to model a gold surface (111) and a series of 60 functionalized phenyl-chalcogenolate ligands to determine the ability of electron-donor and -withdrawing groups to modulate the interaction. The analysis of the interaction was performed by using energy decomposition analysis (EDA), non-covalent interactions index (NCI), and natural population analysis (NPA) to describe the charge transfer processes and to determine data correlation analyses. The results revealed that the magnitudes of the interaction energies increase following the order S < Se < Te, where this interaction strength can be augmented by electron-donor groups, under the donor-acceptor character the chalcogen-gold interaction. We also found that the functionalization in meta position leads to better control of the interaction strength than the ortho substitution due to the steric and inductive effects involved when functionalized in this position.

1,4-Dithiolbenzene, 1,4-dimethanediolbenzene and 4-thioacetylbiphenyl molecular systems: electronic devices with possible applications in molecular electronics

A theoretical study of the electronic transport properties of the 1,4-dithiolbenzene, 1,4-dimethanediolbenzene and 4-thioacetylbiphenyl molecules coupled to two metal contacts is carried out.

Electrochemical Detection of C-Reactive Protein in Human Serum Based on Self-Assembled Monolayer-Modified Interdigitated Wave-Shaped Electrode

An electrochemical capacitance immunosensor based on an interdigitated wave-shaped micro electrode array (IDWµE) for direct and label-free detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) was reported. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate) (DTSP) was used to modify the electrode array for antibody immobilization. The SAM functionalized electrode array was characterized morphologically by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The nature of gold-sulfur interactions on SAM-treated electrode array was probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The covalent linking of anti-CRP-antibodies onto the SAM modified electrode array was characterized morphologically through AFM, and electrochemically through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The application of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and human serum (HS) samples containing different concentrations of CRP in the electrode array caused changes in the electrode interfacial capacitance upon CRP binding. CRP concentrations in PBS and HS were determined quantitatively by measuring the change in capacitance (ΔC) through EIS. The electrode immobilized with anti-CRP-antibodies showed an increase in ΔC with the addition of CRP concentrations over a range of 0.01-10,000 ng mL-1. The electrode showed detection limits of 0.025 ng mL-1 and 0.23 ng mL-1 (S/N = 3) in PBS and HS, respectively. The biosensor showed a good reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD), 1.70%), repeatability (RSD, 1.95%), and adequate selectivity in presence of interferents towards CRP detection. The sensor also exhibited a significant storage stability of 2 weeks at 4 °C in 1× PBS.

Thiol–yne chemistry for 3D printing: exploiting an off-stoichiometric route for selective functionalization of 3D objects

An alkyne monomer, bis(propargyl) fumarate, is synthesized and mixed to a thiol monomer to produce DLP-3D printable formulations. Using off-stoichiometric formulations it is possible to print functionalizable objects.

Se-C Cleavage of Hexane Selenol at Steps on Au(111)

Selenols are considered as an alternative to thiols in self-assembled monolayers, but the Se-C bond is one limiting factor for their usefulness. In this study, we address the stability of the Se-C bond by a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of gas-phase-deposited hexane selenol (CH₃(CH₂)₅SeH) on Au(111) using photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density functional theory (DFT). Experimentally, we find that initial adsorption leaves atomic Se on the surface without any carbon left on the surface, whereas further adsorption generates a saturated selenolate layer. The Se 3d component from atomic Se appears at 0.85 eV lower binding energy than the selenolate-related component. DFT calculations show that the most stable structure of selenols on Au(111) is in the form of RSe-Au-SeR complexes adsorbed on the unreconstructed Au(111) surface. This is similar to thiols on Au(111). Calculated Se 3d core-level shifts between elemental Se and selenolate in this structure nicely reproduce the experimentally recorded shifts. Dissociation of RSeH and subsequent formation of RH are found to proceed with high barriers on defect-free Au(111) terraces, with the highest barrier for scissoring R-Se. However, at steps, these barriers are considerably lower, allowing for Se-C bond breaking and hexane desorption, leaving elemental Se at the surface. Hexane is formed by replacing the Se-C bond with a H-C bond by using the hydrogen liberated from the selenol to selenolate transformation.

Case studies on the formation of chalcogenide self-assembled monolayers on surfaces and dissociative processes

This report examines the assembly of chalcogenide organic molecules on various surfaces, focusing on cases when chemisorption is accompanied by carbon-chalcogen atom-bond scission. In the case of alkane and benzyl chalcogenides, this induces formation of a chalcogenized interface layer. This process can occur during the initial stages of adsorption and then, after passivation of the surface, molecular adsorption can proceed. The characteristics of the chalcogenized interface layer can be significantly different from the metal layer and can affect various properties such as electron conduction. For chalcogenophenes, the carbon-chalcogen atom-bond breaking can lead to opening of the ring and adsorption of an alkene chalcogenide. Such a disruption of the π-electron system affects charge transport along the chains. Awareness about these effects is of importance from the point of view of molecular electronics. We discuss some recent studies based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy that shed light on these aspects for a series of such organic molecules.

Selenium and benzeneselenol interaction with Cu(111)

Benzeneselenol (BSe) and Selenium interaction with a Cu(111) surface was studied to investigate adsorption characteristics, molecular orientation and possibility of Se–C bond scission leading to atomic Se presence on the surface.