Fabrication, characterization and application of novel, highly stable, carbene-based self-assembled monolayers

我们一直在追求在基于自组装单层（SAM）结构的成型材料方面的突破。我们已经申请了一项基于分子类n -杂环碳烯（NHC）形成这些sam的技术专利。在我们的基于nhc的SAM中，一个高度有序的分子阵列，单层厚度，可以在金属表面生长。SAM技术已经存在了30多年，最初的版本基于硫基（烷硫醇）化学。然而，烷硫醇是有限的：它们在氧化环境中不稳定，当暴露于空气和液体时寿命很短。它们也主要局限于黄金，很少与其他金属一起使用。到目前为止，我们已经证明NHCs可以取代烷硫醇作为金和一系列其他过渡金属上的SAM前体分子。空气稳定的NHC前体已经开发出来，形成的sam可以很容易地操纵成不同的自组装几何形状；可支持广泛的表面功能；在氧化和高温环境下高度稳定，从而破坏硫醇基地对空导弹；并引起了工业合作伙伴的兴趣，用于生物分子检测，金属钝化和微电子应用等领域。

We have been pursuing our breakthrough in forming materials based on a structure known as a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). We have patented a technology for forming these SAMs, based on the molecule class N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC). In our NHC-based SAM, a highly ordered array of molecules, a single layer thick, may be grown on a metal surface. SAM technology has been around for over 30 years, with the original version based on a sulfur-based (alkanethiol) chemistry. However, alkanethiols are limited: they are unstable in oxidizing environments, and have a short lifetime when exposed to air and liquids. They are also mainly limited to gold, finding little use with other metals. To date, we have demonstrated that NHCs can replace alkanethiols as SAM precursor molecules on gold, and on a range of other transition metals. Air stable NHC precursors have been developed and the SAMs formed can be readily manipulated into differing self-assembly geometries; can support a wide range of surface functionality; are highly stable to oxidizing and higher temperature environments that would destroy thiol-based SAMs; and have drawn the interest of industrial partners for use in such areas as biomolecule detection, metal passivation and microelectronics applications. We will build a research program that capitalizes on this breakthrough. We believe that NHC-SAMs have the potential to challenge current photolithography technology, particularly around the metal interconnects that are used in semiconductor manufacture. Currently, copper is the metal of choice here. Our NHC SAMs can not only protect copper from oxidation, we have also recently found that they can etch copper oxides completely, and are compatible with potential next generation microelectronics technologies based on metals such as tungsten or molybdenum. We will also use NHC SAMs in a detector system based on a phenomenon known as surface plasmon resonance (SPR). SPR can be used to detect drug molecules and disease biomarkers, but the current technology is expensive, and limited to expert labs in hospitals or research facilities. With their greater robustness, and potential greater sensitivity, our NHC-SAM technology should be able to support new field-based and quick diagnostic instruments, expanding the use of SPR to a wider range of applications. Over the course of the next five years, 16 highly qualified personnel will be trained at the postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate levels. Students will be exposed to an interdisciplinary research environment, with the opportunity to interact with colleagues from the UK and China, and be exposed to several major scientific research facilities, such as the Canadian Light Source in Saskatoon. We anticipate that these students will gain the research and workplace transferable skills to successfully compete for positions in research and development, industrial, university and public service sectors.