Structural studies of 2,2′-bipyridine on Au(100)

Molecular self-assembly at metal-electrolyte interfaces

The self-assembly of molecular layers has become an important strategy in modern design of functional materials. However, in particular, large organic molecules may no longer be sufficiently volatile to be deposited by vapor deposition. In this case, deposition from solution may be a promising route; in ionic form, these molecules may even be soluble in water. In this contribution, we present and discuss results on the electrochemical deposition of viologen- and porphyrin molecules as well as their co-adsorption on chloride modified Cu(100) and Cu(111) single crystal electrode surfaces from aqueous acidic solutions. Using in situ techniques like cyclic voltametry and high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy, as well as ex-situ photoelectron spectroscopy data the highly ordered self-assembled organic layers are characterized with respect to their electrochemical behavior, lateral order and inner conformation as well as phase transitions thereof as a function of their redox-state and the symmetry of the substrate. As a result, detailed structure models are derived and are discussed in terms of the prevailing interactions.

Faradaic phase transition of dibenzyl viologen on an HOPG electrode surface studied by in situ electrochemical STM and electroreflectance spectroscopy

Phase transitions of an adsorption layer of dibenzyl viologen (dBV) as a typical diaryl viologen on a basal plane of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode are described using voltammetry, in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM), and electroreflectance (ER) spectroscopy. A monolayer redox process at less negative potential than the bulk redox process was found to be the first-order faradaic phase transition between a gaslike adsorption layer of dication (dBV(2+)) and a 2D condensed monolayer of radical cation (dBV(•+)). Comparison of the results of cyclic voltammetry and potential step chronoamperometry was made with those of heptyl viologen (HV), which also undergoes a faradaic phase transition of the first order. It suggested that the contribution of intermolecular π-π interaction between benzyl groups of dBV to the phase transition is minor and apparently equivalent to interchain interaction between the heptyl chains of HV. In situ EC-STM images of the 2D condensed monolayer demonstrated stripe patterns of the rows of dBV(•+) molecules forming 3-fold rotationally symmetric domains. The results of the ER measurements also revealed that the orientation of the longitudinal molecular axis of the bipyridinium moiety of dBV(•+) molecules lying flat on the HOPG electrode surface, most likely with a side-on configuration.

Redox activity and structural transition of heptyl viologen adlayers on Cu(100)

The redox behaviour and potential-dependent adsorption structure of heptyl viologen (1,1'-diheptyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride, DHV(2+)) on a Cu(100) electrode was investigated in a chloride-containing electrolyte solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM). The dicationic DHV molecules generate a few pairs of current waves in CV measurements which are ascribed to two typical one-electron transfer steps. STM images obtained in a KCl-containing electrolyte solution disclose a well-ordered c(2x2) chloride adlayer on a Cu(100) electrode surface. After injecting DHV(2+) molecules into the KCl electrolyte solution, a highly ordered 2D "dot-array" structure in STM images emerges on the c(2x2)-Cl modified Cu(100) electrode surface. DHV(2+) molecules spontaneously arrange themselves with their molecular planes facing the electrode surface and their long molecular axis parallel to the step edge. Such adsorption structure can be described by mirror domains and rotational domains which stably exist between 200 mV and -100 mV. One-electron reduction of the dications DHV(2+) around -150 mV causes a phase transition from a 'dot-array' assembly to a stripe pattern formed by DHV(*+) radical monocations in STM images which has a bilayer structure. With a further decrease of the applied electrode potential, the structure of the DHV(*+) adlayer undergoes a change from a loose stripe phase to a more compact stripe phase, a subsequent decay of the compact structure, and finally the formation of a new dimer phase. A further electron transfer reaction at -400 mV causes the formation of an amorphous phase on the chloride free electrode surface. In a reverse anodic sweep, the reproduction of the ordered DHV(*+) stacking phase occurs again on top of the chloride lattice.

Electrochemical evaluation of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine adsorption on polycrystalline gold

Using differential capacity and chronocoulometry, we have studied the electrosorption of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) on polycrystalline gold electrode surfaces. Our results indicate that the orientation of DMAP is highly dependent on the electrode potential and electrolyte pH. At pH values at or above the primary pKa, the adsorbed species is DMAP and orients vertically on the electrode surface via the lone pair of electrons on the pyridine ring's nitrogen atom. At very low pH values (<3) the adsorbed species is the protonated ion, DMAPH+, which can be desorbed from the electrode surface when the metal's surface charge density is made appreciably positive of the potential of zero charge. At intermediate electrolyte pH, either DMAP or DMAPH+ is adsorbed on the surface depending on the electrode's potential. At negative charge densities, DMAPH+ lies nearly flat on the gold electrode and the surface coverage is correspondingly low. When the electrode is positively charged, the adsorbate undergoes a phase transition to a vertical orientation and is simultaneously deprotonated to DMAP. Our results rationalize the stability of DMAP-ligated gold nanoparticles as a function of pH and demonstrate that the ligand's surface coverage is the principal factor in determining the stability of the colloidal system.

Self-assembled monolayers based on phenanthroline-gold(111) bonding

The self-assembly of long-alkyl-chain substituted phenanthroline derivatives on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) and gold(111) is compared. Whereas the adsorption on HOPG is controlled by the affinity of alkyl chains for the substrate, which leads to flat-lying adsorbed molecules, alignments of upright-oriented molecules are formed on gold(111). This situation is explained by the bonding of chelating species with gold(111) surfaces and by the pi-stacking interaction between conjugated moieties. This intermediate situation between strong thiol-like chemical bonding and the weak n-alkane-like physical adsorption opens the route toward laterally organized functional molecular assemblies.

Adsorption geometry of 4-picoline chemisorbed on the Cu(110) surface: a study of forces controlling molecular self-assembly

The adsorption of 4-picoline (4-methylpyridine) on the Cu(110) surface has been studied with time-of-flight electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution (TOF-ESDIAD) and other methods. Using deuterium labeling in the methyl group and hydrogen labeling on the aromatic ring, it has been possible to separately monitor by TOF-ESDIAD the C-D bond directions and the C-H bond directions in the adsorbed molecule. These triangulation measurements have led to a detailed understanding of the conformation of the adsorbed molecule relative to the Cu(110) crystal lattice, allowing one to witness changes in the molecular conformation as adsorbate-adsorbate interactional effects take place for increasing coverages. At low coverages, the molecule adsorbs by the N atom at an atop Cu site with the aromatic ring parallel to the <001> azimuth and with the molecular axis inclined 33 (+/- 5) degrees along the <001> azimuth. As rows of 4-picoline molecules form long range ordered chain structures oriented along the <112> azimuth, the aromatic ring twists 29 degrees about the inclined molecular axis as a result of forces between the adsorbate molecules. The initial tilting of the molecular axis at low coverage is likely due to the interaction of the positive-outward dipole with its image in the substrate. The ring twist may result from dipoleminus signdipole forces between the adsorbate molecules in the rows formed tending to form nested parallel pyridine rings. These studies are the first to apply the TOF-ESDIAD method for the measurement of the direction of chemical bonds at more than one molecular location within an adsorbed molecule and the new method is named electron stimulated desorption-molecular triangulation (ESD-MT). The results obtained give information of importance in understanding the factors which control conformational effects during the molecular self-assembly of complex adsorbed molecules on surfaces.