Issue 17, 2014

The rapid formation of functional monolayers on silicon under mild conditions

Abstract

We report on an exceedingly mild chemical functionalization of hydrogen-terminated Si(100) with unactivated and unprotected bifunctional α,ω-dialkynes. Monolayer formation occurs rapidly in the dark, and at room temperature, from dilute solutions of an aromatic-conjugated acetylene. The method addresses the poor reactivity of p-type substrates under mild conditions. We suggest the importance of several factors, including an optimal orientation for electron transfer between the adsorbate and the Si surface, conjugation of the acetylenic function with a π-system, as well as the choice of a solvent system that favors electron transfer and screens Coulombic interactions between surface holes and electrons. The passivated Si(100) electrode is amenable to further functionalization and shown to be a viable model system for redox studies at non-oxide semiconductor electrodes in aqueous solutions.

Graphical abstract: The rapid formation of functional monolayers on silicon under mild conditions

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Jan 2014
Accepted
04 Mar 2014
First published
10 Mar 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014,16, 8003-8011

Author version available

The rapid formation of functional monolayers on silicon under mild conditions

S. Ciampi, E. Luais, M. James, M. H. Choudhury, N. A. Darwish and J. J. Gooding, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 8003 DOI: 10.1039/C4CP00396A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements