Self-assembled monolayer films of fullerene C60 on cysteamine-modified gold

Abstract

Self-assembled monolayer films (SAMs) of C[sub 60] on cysteamine-modified and cysteamine/ethanethiol-modified Au are reported. The monolayers were characterized via contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements. C[sub 60] surface coverage (2.0 [times] 10[sup [minus]10] mol/cm[sup 2]) for a film formed on pure cysteamine was determined by QCM measurements and compares remarkably well with monolayer coverage (1.9 [times] 10[sup [minus]10] mol/cm[sup 2]) predicted by a model based on crystallographic data for C[sub 60]. These experiments demonstrate the utility of the QCM in characterizing and monitoring the growth of fullerene SAMs. C[sub 60] SAMs formed on pure cysteamine yield strikingly different electrochemical responses than those formed on prelayers consisting of varying ratios of ethanethiol and cysteamine and previously reported monolayers of C[sub 60] on (aminopropyl)silanized oxide surfaces. Although the C[sub 60] SAMs are stable under ambient conditions, the fullerenes may be desorbed from the surface through electrochemical reduction of the films for extended periods of time (> 10 min). 11 refs., 2 figs.