A pH-Sensitive Supramolecular Switch Based on Mixed Carboxylic Acid Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111)

We show that homogeneously mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mercaptoalkanoic acids of different chain lengths can be used to build up a pH-sensitive supramolecular switch. The acids with short and long alkyl chains interact via the strong hydrogen bond between carboxylic acid groups. The pH...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Jacquelin, Daniela Karina, Perez, Manuel Alejo, Euti, Esteban, Arisnabarreta, Nicolás, Cometto, Fernando Pablo, Paredes Olivera, Patricia, Patrito, Eduardo Martin
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/51626
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/51626
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Carboxylic Acids
Density Functional Theory
Hydrogen Bonds
Monolayers
Ph Sensors
Raman Spectrocopy
Supramolecular Chemestry
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.4
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:We show that homogeneously mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mercaptoalkanoic acids of different chain lengths can be used to build up a pH-sensitive supramolecular switch. The acids with short and long alkyl chains interact via the strong hydrogen bond between carboxylic acid groups. The pH acts as a trigger by breaking or restoring the hydrogen bond interaction in basic or acidic solutions, respectively. The corresponding changes in the monolayer structure were determined by ellipsometry, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to elucidate the structures of interacting molecules compatible with the surface coverage obtained from electrochemical reductive desorption experiments. The simplicity of the preparation procedure assures a high reproducibility whereas the stability of the homogeneous mixed SAM guarantees the reversibility of the switching process.