Nanopatterning Graphite Surface by Diazoniums Using Electrochemical Method

Phan Thanh Hai; Vo Minh Hieu; Nguyen Duy Dien; Hoang Van Tinh; Huynh Thi Mien Trung

doi:10.51316/jca.2022.007

Authors

Phan Thanh Hai Faculty of Natural Sciences, Quy Nhon University Author
Vo Minh Hieu Faculty of Natural Sciences, Quy Nhon University Author
Nguyen Duy Dien Faculty of Natural Sciences, Quy Nhon University Author
Hoang Van Tinh Faculty of Natural Sciences, Quy Nhon University Author
Huynh Thi Mien Trung Faculty of Natural Sciences, Quy Nhon University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51316/jca.2022.007

Keywords:

HOPG, diazoniums, nanocorrals, surface functionalization, electrochemical grafting

Abstract

Molecular functionalization of graphitic surfaces with nanopatterned structures is regarded as one of the effective bottom-up techniques to tune their electronic properties towards electronics applications. Diazonium molecules have been often employed to covalently functionalize graphene and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) substrates. However, controlling the structure of the molecular adlayers is still challenging. In this contribution, we demonstrated an inconventional approach for covalent functionalization the HOPG surface by using mixture of 4-nitrobenzenediazonium (4-NBD) and 3,5-bis-tert-butylbenzenediazonium (3,5-TBD) molecules in which the former tends to polimezise and physisorb while the later chemically anchors on surface. The physisorbed features can be removed by washing with hot toluene and water. As a result, the HOPG surface is patterned in a quasi-periodic fashion. The efficiency of this development was verified by a combination of cyclic voltametry (CV) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods. This finding represents a convenient strategy for creating nanoconfined templates that might serve as nano-playgrounds for further supramolecular self-assembly and other on-surface reactions.

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