Assembly of dithiocarbamate-anchored monolayers on gold surfaces in aqueous solutions

Heng Zhu, Purdue University - Main Campus
Donna M. Coleman, Purdue University - Main Campus
Christopher J. Dehen, Purdue University - Main Campus
Iris M. Geisler, Purdue University - Main Campus
Dmitry Zemlyanov, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Jean Chmielewski, Purdue University - Main Campus
Garth J. Simpson, Purdue University - Main Campus
Alexander Wei, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University

Date of this Version

8-19-2008

This document has been peer-reviewed.

 

Abstract

Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) can be formed by the in situ condensation of polar alkylamines with CS2, and assembled into dithiocarbamate-anchored monolayers (DAMs) on Au substrates in aqueous solutions. Primary and secondary amines can both be used to prepare DTCs, but have significant differences in their reactivities and product stabilities. Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy provides a convenient method for monitoring in situ DTC formation as well as the formation of potential byproducts. The kinetics of DAM assembly on An substrates as measured by second harmonic generation (SHG) indicated first-order rate processes and saturation coverages similar to those of alkanethiols on Au. However, the rate of adsorption did not change with DTC concentration in a manner expected of Langmuir kinetics, and is attributed to the competitive adsorption of alkylammonium counterions to the freshly oxidized Au substrate. These analyses establish a practical range of conditions for preparing DAMs from polar amines using in situ DTC formation.

Discipline(s)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

 

Share