AVS2012 Session TF+EM+SS-ThA: Applications of Self-Assembled Monolayers and Layer-by-Layer Assemblies

Thursday, November 1, 2012 2:00 PM in Room 10
Thursday Afternoon

Time Period ThA Sessions | Abstract Timeline | Topic TF Sessions | Time Periods | Topics | AVS2012 Schedule

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2:00 PM Invited TF+EM+SS-ThA-1 Light-Directed Nanosynthesis: Near-Field Optical Approaches to Integration of the Top-Down and Bottom-Up Fabrication Paradigms
Graham Leggett (University of Sheffield, UK)

The integration of top-down (lithographic) and bottom-up (synthetic chemical) methodologies remains a major goal in nanoscience. At larger length scales, light-directed chemical synthesis, first reported two decades ago, provides a model for this integration, by combining the spatial selectivity of photolithography with the synthetic utility of photochemistry. Work in our laboratory has sought to realise a similar integration at the nanoscale, by employing near-field optical probes to initiate selective chemical transformations in regions a few tens of nm in size. A combination of near-field exposure and an ultra-thin resist yields exceptional performance: in self-assembled monolayers, an ultimate resolution of 9 nm (ca. l/30) has been achieved. A wide range of methodologies, based on monolayers of thiols, silanes and phosphonic acids, and thin films of nanoparticles and polymers, have been developed for use on metal and oxide surfaces, enabling the fabrication of metal nanowires, nanostructured polymers and nanopatterned oligonucleotides and proteins. Strategies based upon the use of nitrophenyl-based photocleavable protecting groups have enabled the introduction of synthetic chemical methodology into nanofabrication. Nanoscale control of chemistry over macroscopic areas remains an important challenge. Recently parallel near-field lithography approaches have demonstrated the capacity to pattern macroscopic areas at high resolution, yielding feature sizes of ca. 100 nm over an area four orders of magnitude larger; they have also demonstrated the ability to function under fluid, yielding feature sizes of ca. 70 nm in photoresist under water and suggesting exciting possibilities for surface chemistry at the nanoscale. Finally, the monolayer patterning methods we have developed are by no means restricted to near-field lithography; all that is required is a suitable means of confining the optical excitation. For example, SAM photochemistry has been combined with interferometric exposure to facilitate the fabrication of periodic nanostructures over macroscopic areas in fast, simple, inexpensive processes, underlining the versatility of photochemistry as a nanofabrication tool.

2:40 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-3 Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD) of Polymer Multiple Quantum Dots on TiO2
Tetsuzo Yoshimura, Sho Ishii (Tokyo University of Technology, Japan)

[Introduction] We previously proposed oxide-semiconductor-based sensitized solar cells, in which polymer multiple quantum dots (MQDs) are utilized for sensitizing layers, and fabricated the polymer MQDs on glass substrates by Molecular Layer Deposition (MLD) [1]. In the present study, we grew polymer MQDs on TiO2 by MLD. The polymer MQD growth on TiO2 was confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) spectra.

[ Proposed Solar Cells S ensitized by Polymer MQDs] The proposed sensitized solar cell consists of an oxide semiconductor layer and polymer MQDs on the surface. The polymer MQD contains different-length quantum dots (QDs) in the backbone wire, and consequently, a wide absorption band is obtained by superposition of narrow absorption bands of the individual QDs. This spectral division with the narrow bands can reduce the energy loss arising from the heat generation due to excess photon energy in light absorption processes.

[Absorption/Photoluminescence Spectra of Polymer MQDs ] Reference samples of poly-azomethine (AM) and polymer MQDs: OTPTPT, OTPT, and OT were grown on glass substrates by connecting terephthalaldehyde (TPA), p-phenylenediamine (PPDA), and oxalic dihydrazide (ODH) with designated orders using MLD. The QD lengths in OTPTPT, OTPT and OT are respectively ~3, ~2 and ~0.8 nm. With decreasing the QD length, while the absorption peak shifts to high-energy side due to the quantum confinement, the PL peak shifts to low-energy side due to the Stokes shift. Namely, in the order of poly-AM to OT, the electrons become highly localized to increase the surrounding atoms’ displacement caused by the electron transitions, resulting in the Stokes shift enhancement.

[Growth of Polymer MQDs on TiO2] We performed MLD to grow poly-AM on ZnO and TiO2 powder layers. A yellow film of poly-AM was observed on TiO2. For ZnO, however, no film growth was observed because of weak hydrophilic characteristics of ZnO surfaces. We grew poly-AM and polymer MQDs of TO on the TiO2 powder layers by MLD, and measured their PL spectra. The PL spectrum of TO was located at lower-energy side than that of poly-AM, which is parallel to the tendency observed in the PL spectra of the reference samples. From this result, it is concluded that polymer MQDs can be grown on TiO2 by MLD as the sensitizing layers for solar cells.

[1] T. Yoshimura, R. Ebihara, A. Oshima, “Polymer Wires with Quantum Dots Grown by Molecular Layer Deposition of Three Source Molecules for Sensitized Photovoltaics,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A. 29: 051510-1-6 (2011).
3:00 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-4 Thiol-yne Click Chemistry: Old Concept & New Applications in Surface Science
Nagendra Bhairamadgi, Han Zuilhof (Wageningen University, Netherlands)

Click chemistry reactions have opened new horizons in the field of surface chemistry, as these reactions are ease to perform on surfaces. A nice example is the addition of thiol moieties onto C=C bonds, which have been shown to be highly efficient, orthogonal to many other reactions, highly selective, etc. Recently we and others have shown that thiol-ene click reactions can be used efficiently for the modification of semiconductor surfaces and nanoparticles with a wide range of materials. In the current presentation we show an improved procedure involving C≡C bonds, i.e. thiol-yne click reactions.

We modified oxide-free Si(111) surfaces with alkene-terminated and alkyne-terminated monolayers, and these surfaces were further modified with various thiols such as thioglycolic acid, thioacetic acid, thioglycerol, thio-β-D-glucose tetraacetate lactose and 9-flurenylmethoxy-carbonyl cysteine by using thiol-ene and thiol-yne click reactions. Upon detailed surface analysis it was found that after some optimization the thiol-yne click reaction yielded 20 – 80 % more surface coverage compared to thiol-ene click reactions. Thus surface modification with thiol-yne click reactions promise to be the next step in surface-bound thiol click chemistry.

References:

1. Campos, M. A. C.; Paulusse, J. M. J.; Zuilhof, H., Functional monolayers on oxide- free silicon surfaces via thiol-ene click chemistry. Chem. Commun. 2010, 46 (30), 5512-5514.

2. Lowe, A. B.; Hoyle, C. E.; Bowman, C. N., Thiol-yne click chemistry: A powerful and versatile methodology for materials synthesis. J. Mater. Chem. 2010, 20 (23), 4745- 4750.

3. Ruizendaal, L.; Pujari, S. P.; Gevaerts, V.; Paulusse, J. M. J.; Zuilhof, H., Biofunctional Silicon Nanoparticles by Means of Thiol-Ene Click Chemistry. Chem. Asian J. 2011, 6 (10), 2776-2786.

4. Wendeln, C.; Ravoo, B. J., Surface Patterning by Microcontact Chemistry. Langmuir 2012, 28 (13), 5527-5538.

5. Wendeln, C.; Rinnen, S.; Schulz, C.; Arlinghaus, H. F.; Ravoo, B. J., Photochemical Microcontact Printing by Thiol−Ene and Thiol−Yne Click Chemistry. Langmuir 2010, 26 (20), 15966-15971.

3:20 PM BREAK
3:40 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-6 Attachment of Conjugated Diruthenium Alkynyl Compounds by Click Chemistry
Sujitra Pookpanratana (National Institute of Standards and Technology); Steven Cummings, Tong Ren (Purdue University); Curt Richter, Christina Hacker (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
Attaching electrochemically-active molecules to a variety of different surfaces is of particular interest for applications in photovoltaic devices, catalysis, and molecular electronics. The family of diruthenium 2-anilinopyridinate (ap) molecules is redox active [1], which makes it an ideal candidate to incorporate on surfaces for molecular catalysis, photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting, and as an active component in molecular electronic devices. Often times, the attachment of a tailored-molecule requires the additional design challenge to incorporate a specific anchoring group (e.g., thiol). Click chemistry has been demonstrated as an effective method to incorporate bulky and complex molecules to a variety of surfaces [2-6]. This route has introduced numerous possibilities of tailoring molecular surfaces.
Here, we have employed a Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction to attach Ru2(ap)4-(C≡C-C6H4-C≡CH), (henceforth referred to as Ru2-alkynyl) to Au and SiO2 surfaces. First, we form an azide-terminated monolayer on Au and SiO2 by using azidoundecanethiol and azidoundecyl trimethoxysilane, respectively. Next, the Ru2-alkynyl is linked to the azide-containing monolayers via a CuAAC reaction (adapted from Ref. 4). The clicked-on Ru2-alkynyl molecule was physically characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The formation of the azide monolayer on Au and SiO2 surfaces is confirmed by IR measurements. After the CuAAC click reaction of the Ru2-alkynyl to the azide-treated surfaces, there is a reduction of the azide stretch in the IR which indirectly confirms the progress of the click reaction. The incorporation of Ru2-alkynyl is confirmed by XPS, where we estimate the Ru2-alkynyl covers about 10% of the azide sites.
The formation of molecular electronic junctions (Au/Ru2-alkynyl/Si structures) by flip-chip lamination [7] for electrical and backside IR [8] characterizations is currently ongoing. With these results, we are able to obtain a thorough picture linking electrical properties with physical and chemical structure of the diruthenium molecular junctions.
  1. S. P. Cummings et al., Organometallics 29, (2010) 2783 – 2788.
  2. R. Chelmowski et al., Langmuir 25, (2009) 11480-11485.
  3. G. Qin et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, (2010) 16432-16441.
  4. R. E. Ruther et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 133, (2011) 5692 – 5694.
  5. A. C. Cardiel et al., ACS Nano 6, (2012) 310-318.
  6. P. K. B. Palomaki and P. H. Dinolfo, Langmuir 26, (2010) 9677 – 9685.
  7. M. Coll et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, (2009) 12451-12457.
  8. C. A. Richter et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 109, (2005) 21836 - 21841.
4:00 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-7 Vapor Phase Surface Functionalization using Hybrid SAMs / ALD Heterostructures
Laurent Lecordier, Mark Dalberth, Ganesh Sundaram, Jill Becker (Cambridge Nanotech, Inc.)
Self-assembled monolayers and atomic layer deposition are two methodologies commonly used to tailor surface properties at the atomic scale and achieve thin films with excellent electrical, chemical, mechanical or optical performances thus leading to a broad portfolio of applications from thin films for flexible electronics to biological surface functionalization.
While ALD film growth is the result of a discretized process where inorganic monolayers are built upon one another through a sequence of reactant exposure/purge cycles until the desired film thickness is achieved (typically 1-100nm), SAMs on the other hand allow the deposition of a single ordered organic monolayer. Both processes are driven by self-limited chemisorbed surface reactions and can be deposited under vacuum conditions at relatively low temperatures, facilitating the integration of these two processes on a single platform.
The current work was implemented on a commercial Cambridge Nanotech hybrid ALD/SAMs platform. The tool is based on a Savannah S200 ALD reactor and integrates a SAMs kit for the accurate delivery of a variety of SAMs reactants. Stable SAMs monolayers are deposited under vacuum conditions using exposure mode (EXPO) characteristic of Cambridge Nanotech ALD tools. Key process metrics such as precursor pulse and exposure times, source and reactor temperatures were investigated for a variety of precursors including non-polar hydrophobic alkylsilanes (DTS), oleophobic fluorinated silanes (FOTS), hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) and thiols. In all cases, the self-limited surface saturation was achieved within 1 to 15 min minute exposures to the precursor at temperature ranging from 50 to 110°C.
In some instances, oxide ALD films were used to deposit a very thin seed layers (<5Å) to promote the adhesion of a SAM without prior surface cleaning/conditioning. Heterostructures based on oxide ALD (Al2O3, ZrO2, SiO2) and SAMS were also obtained to develop efficient water moisture barriers to be used for encapsulation. Overall the integration of these processes in a single platform provides a versatile and scalable method to surface functionalization where surface properties such as wettability can be tuned by controlling at the atomic level the structures of these hybrid coatings.
4:20 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-8 Chemically and Mechanically Stable Hydrophobic Thin Films Prepared by Combination of Layer-By-Layer Approach and Thiolene Chemistry
Nitesh Madaan, Joshua Tuscano, Naomi Romriell, Matthew Linford (Brigham Young University)

The current aim of our research is to create robust hydrophobic thin films, for glass/silicon substrates, which can withstand extreme pH conditions and temperatures, have good release properties, and at the same time are mechanically durable. This approach consists of deposition of 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APTES) on a silicon substrate followed by layer-by-layer deposition and cross-linking of alternating layers of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). These nylon-like cross-linked layers have already been demonstrated to possess stability in extreme pH conditions. Their permeability can be controlled by the extent of crosslinking, which depends on the time and temperature of crosslinking. A careful study using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in our lab showed 71% cross-linking when these assemblies were heated at 250 °C for 2 h. We also found that the ratio of ammonium to amine groups in these bilayers is 2:1, and that there is a potential to impart additional properties to the films by utilizing these residual amine groups. This was part of an experimental design over a series of times and temperatures.These substrates can further be modified using a variety of chemistries. One approach is to expose these substrates to basic NaOH solution (pH ~ 10) in order to deprotonate the ammonium groups of the terminal PAH layer followed by treatment with Traut’s reagent to convert amine groups into thiol groups. The thiol groups are then reacted with 1,2-polybutadiene and a perfluoroalkanethiol using thiol-ene chemistry. Another approach is to use hydrolyzed poly(maleic anhydride alt 1-octadecene) as a terminal electrostatic anionic layer. A chemical and tribological stability comparison will be performed between the above prepared films and a perfluoroalkane silane film on Si substrates. The effect of the total thickness of cross-linked PAH-PAA bilayers on the stability of prepared films will be studied. The substrates are thoroughly analyzed at each surface modification step using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, ellipsometry, water contact angles, and atomic force microscopy.

4:40 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-9 A Detailed Investigation of the Conditions for Monolayer Deposition from Silane Precursors
Jan Knauf (Advanced Molecular Films GmbH / RWTH Aachen University, Germany); Laura Reddemann (Advanced Molecular Films GmbH / Universität zu Köln, Germany); Alexander Böker (RWTH Aachen University, Germany); Karsten Reihs (Advanced Molecular Films GmbH, Germany)
We have systematically investigated the process parameters for the vapor-phase deposition of monolayers from fluoroalkylated silane precursors. Our study reveals the influence of many process parameters on the molecular structure of the monolayers. Of particular interest to us are wetting and frictional properties of the monolayer obtained from the variation of process conditions. For reproducibly preparing high quality films particular parameters have to be meticulously controlled in a very narrow range which is not achievable without advanced deposition equipment.
 
Although the deposition of monolayers from silane precursors has been accomplished by various methods and has been subject to numerous studies, the properties and reproducibility of the resulting films remain unsatisfying for many applications. As an example, fluid wall slippage strongly depends on small changes in monolayer processing conditions which sensitively influence the structure of the monolayer deposited on structured surfaces [1].
 
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were prepared by controlling a variety of process parameters, such as processing sequence and partial pressures of reactive compounds, deposition temperatures, adsorption/desorption times. These conditions were investigated for linear fluoroalkylated silane precursors of different chain lengths.
 
SAMs were deposited from fluoroalkylated silane precursors on pre-treated Si-wafers. Samples were examined by dynamic contact angle measurements, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (sSIMS). The precursors applied were linear 1H,1H,2H,2HPerfluoroalkyltrichlorosilanes and varying chain lengths of the fluoroalkyl part were used for comparative studies based on detailed investigations using 1H,1H,2H,2HPerfluorodecyltrichlorosilane. Short-chain precursors were commercially available in ready-to-use quality whereas longer-chain compounds starting from 1H,1H,2H,2HPerfluorododecyltrichlorosilane were synthesized in our labs. While the short-chain compounds could be processed by routine measures special precautions had to be applied for storage and handling of longer-chain compounds due to their higher reactivity.
 
Results of the study of deposition conditions will be presented and discussed and may serve as a guideline for the reproducible preparation of well-defined monolayers from silane precursors.
 
[1] L. Reddemann, J. Knauf, A. Böker, K. Reihs, 14th International Conference on Organized Molecular Films (ICOMF14) - LB14, Abstract 146 (2012)
5:00 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-10 Self Limiting Behavior in the Directed Self-Assembly of Mounds on Patterned GaAs(001)
Chuan-Fu Lin (University of Maryland); Chris Richardson (Laboratory for Physical Science); Hung-Chih Kan (University of Maryland); Norman Bartelt (Sandia National Laboratories); Raymond Phaneuf (University of Maryland)
We present results demonstrating directed self assembly of nm scale mounds during molecular beam epitaxial growth on patterned GaAs(001) surfaces. In the initial stages of growth, a lithographically-defined pattern directs the spontaneous formation of multilayer islands at the centers of bridges between near-neighbor nanopits along [110] crystal orientation, seemingly due to the presence of an Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier. As growth continues, the heights of mounds at these 2-fold bridge sites “self-limit”. Beyond this point mounds at other, 4-fold bridge sites dominate the topography, but these self-limit as well. This behavior suggests the existence of a minimum, ‘critical terrace width’ for nucleation of islands during growth, and provides a physical mechanism for understanding the transient nature of the observed instability during growth on these patterned surfaces
5:20 PM TF+EM+SS-ThA-11 Characterization of Fully Functional Spray-on Antibody Thin Film
Jhon Figueroa, Sonia Magana, Daniel Lim, Rudy Schlaf (University of South Florida)

Physical adsorption (solid –liquid interface) is known as a simple and rapid option to immobilize biomolecules on various surfaces. Proteins, receptors and antibodies are attached via physisorption to different surfaces by various attachment protocols. However, physical adsorption has been often labeled in the past with disadvantages like variability, reversibility and low surface density of immobilized biomolecules. In contrast, the presented research demonstrates that spray deposition with a pneumatic nebulizer can be used to immobilize fully functional and stable physisorbed antibody coatings on glass surfaces with high reproducibility.

The experiments were performed using a low flow concentric nebulizer (commonly used on mass spectrometry), regular glass slides as a substrate and E. coli O157:H7 antibody as prototypical test system. The antibody films were examined for functionality, specificity and shelf life. A series of films with varying thickness and deposition conditions was characterized with respect to functionality, mechanical stability, surface morphology and antibody density. The results demonstrate that the films are comparable to films prepared with the standard covalent attachment protocol (avidin-biotin). They show low denaturation or conformational changes, minimal loss during the rinsing process suggesting good attachment to the surface, and they perform as well with regard to sensitivity, specificity and shelf-life. The morphology studies suggest that the non-oriented attachment of the spray deposited antibodies (compared to the oriented attachment achieved with the covalent attachment scheme) is compensated by a higher antibody density enabled by the non-equilibrium spray deposition process.

Time Period ThA Sessions | Abstract Timeline | Topic TF Sessions | Time Periods | Topics | AVS2012 Schedule