An IETS study of a silane coupling agent; the interaction of 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propanethiol with aluminium oxide and silver surfaces

Abstract

The inelastic electron tunnelling spectrum of a silane coupling agent, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propanethiol, is presented. Approximately monolayer quantities of this silane are present on the barrier oxide of an aluminium-aluminium oxide-metal tunnelling junction, in which the counter electrode is either lead or silver. It is deduced from the IETS spectra that the alkoxy groups of this silane condense with the surface hydroxyl groups. No interaction with the lead is observed but the silver layer clearly reacts with the thiol group of the silane molecule, since the thiol stretching vibration is absent in the spectra, and probably forms the corresponding silver thiolate. The influence of this reaction on the conformation of the bound silane is discussed.