Studies of Redox Kinetics and Long-Range Electronic Coupling Using Self-Assembled omega-Hydroxythiol Monolayers on Electrodes

在金电极上自组装的有机硫醇单分子膜可以用来探测溶液中从电极到氧化还原对的电子转移的细节。 在这个由分析和表面化学计划支持的研究项目中，绝缘电极伏安法将由马里兰州大学的卡里米勒教授和他的学生开发，作为探测电子转移过程的方法，利用这些自组装有机单分子膜的结构。 硫醇单层内的电子耦合将通过分子覆盖层内的官能团置换来研究。 这项工作结合了特定分子的合成来测试这些层中电子转移的想法，以及了解这些层中电子转移动力学所需的详细电化学测量。 这些信息可以在分子电子器件的设计和控制中有长期的用途。 为了合理地设计使用分子组分的超小尺寸电子器件，必须发展对跨分子物种的电子转移的详细理解。 该研究项目开始通过对模型有机薄膜的电子转移过程进行详细测量来发展这种理解，该模型有机薄膜的结构和官能团组成可以很容易地改变。

Self-assembled organic thiol monolayers on gold electrodes can be used to probe the details of electron transfer from the electrode to redox couples in solution. In this research project, supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, insulated electrode voltammetry will be developed by Professor Cary Miller and his students at the University of Maryland as a method to probe electron transfer processes, taking advantage of the structure of these self- assembled organic monolayers. Electron coupling within the thiol monolayers will be investigated by functional group replacement within the molecular overlayer. The work combines the synthesis of specific molecules to test ideas of electron transfer in these layers, as well as the detailed electrochemical measurements needed to understand the kinetics of electron transfer across these layers. This information could have long range use in the design and control of molecular electronic devices. In order to rationally design ultra small scale electronic devices using molecular components, a detailed understanding of electron transfer across molecular species must be developed. This research project begins to develop this sort of understanding by making detailed measurements of electron transfer processes across model organic thin films, whose structure and functional group make-up can be readily varied.