Effect of α-Heteroatoms on the Formation of Alkene-Derived Monolayers on H-Si(111): A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study.

We investigate herein whether the reactivity and surface coverage of 1-alkenes toward hydrogen-terminated Si(111) surfaces [H-Si(111)] can be improved by introducing heteroatoms such as oxygen and sulfur at the α-position next to the alkene functional group. To this end, the reactivity of 1-pentene, 1-pentyne, vinyl ethyl ether, and vinyl ethyl sulfide toward H-Si(111) and the surface coverage of the resulting monolayers were studied and compared. All modified surfaces were characterized by static water contact angle measurements, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and infrared absorption reflection spectroscopy (IRRAS).

Hexadecadienyl monolayers on hydrogen-terminated Si(111): faster monolayer formation and improved surface coverage using the enyne moiety.

To further improve the coverage of organic monolayers on hydrogen-terminated silicon (H-Si) surfaces with respect to the hitherto best agents (1-alkynes), it was hypothesized that enynes (H-C≡C-HC═CH-R) would be even better reagents for dense monolayer formation. To investigate whether the increased delocalization of β-carbon radicals by the enyne functionality indeed lowers the activation barrier, the kinetics of monolayer formation by hexadec-3-en-1-yne and 1-hexadecyne on H-Si(111) were followed by studying partially incomplete monolayers. Ellipsometry and static contact angle measurements indeed showed a faster increase of layer thickness and hydrophobicity for the hexadec-3-en-1-yne-derived monolayers.

Mimicking the silicon surface: reactivity of silyl radical cations toward nucleophiles.

Radical cations of selected low molecular-weight silicon model compounds were obtained by photoinduced electron transfer. These radical cations react readily with a variety of nucleophiles, regularly used in monolayer fabrication onto hydrogen-terminated silicon. From time-resolved kinetics, it was concluded that the reactions proceed via a bimolecular nucleophilic attack to the radical cation.

Molecular modeling of alkyl and alkenyl monolayers on hydrogen-terminated Si(111).

On H-Si(111) surfaces monolayer formation with 1-alkenes results in alkyl monolayers with a Si-C-C linkage, while 1-alkynes yield alkenyl monolayers with a Si-C═C linkage. Recently, considerable structural differences between both types of monolayers were observed, including an increased thickness, improved packing, and higher surface coverage for the alkenyl monolayers. The precise origin thereof could experimentally not be clarified yet.