Results
Title

Flexible NO<sub>2</sub>‐Functionalized N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Monolayers on Au (111) Surface.

Authors

Dery, Shahar; Kim, Suhong; Tomaschun, Gabriele; Haddad, David; Cossaro, Albano; Verdini, Alberto; Floreano, Luca; Klüner, Thorsten; Toste, F. Dean; Gross, Elad

Abstract

The formation of flexible self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) in which an external trigger modifies the geometry of surface‐anchored molecules is essential for the development of functional materials with tunable properties. In this work, it is demonstrated that NO2‐functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbene molecules (NHCs), which were anchored on Au (111) surface, change their orientation from tilted into flat‐lying position following trigger‐induced reduction of their nitro groups. DFT calculations identified that the energetic driving force for reorientation was the lower steric hindrance and stronger interactions between the chemically reduced NHCs and the Au surface. The trigger‐induced changes in the NHCs′ anchoring geometry and chemical functionality modified the work function and the hydrophobicity of the NHC‐decorated Au surface, demonstrating the impact of a chemically tunable NHC‐based SAM on the properties of the metal surface.

Subjects

METALLIC surfaces; STERIC hindrance; MONOMOLECULAR films; ELECTRON work function; GROUP 15 elements

Publication

Chemistry - A European Journal, 2019, Vol 25, Issue 66, p15067

ISSN

0947-6539

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1002/chem.201903434