Organic monolayers on Si(111) by electrochemical method

This work details the formation of organic monolayers on Si(111) by electrochemical methods. We show that grafting of phenyl groups is possible by reduction of +N2–Ar–X cations where the substituent X may be Br, NO2, COOH, CN, CnH2n+1 (n=1, 4, 12). Characterizations show that the electrochemical process is self stopped after completion of the first monolayer whose structure is (2×1) close packed in the case X=Br and CH3 as observed by STM. The stability and passivating properties of films are also investigated