Surface modification of silicon nanowires via copper-free click chemistry

A two-step process based on copper-free click chemistry is described, by which the surface of silicon nanowires can be functionalized with specific organic substituents. A hydrogen-terminated nanowire surface is first primed with a monolayer of an α,ω-diyne and thereby turned into an alkyne-terminated, clickable platform, which is subsequently coupled with an overlayer of an organic azide carrying the desired terminal functionality. The reactive, electron-deficient character of the employed diyne enabled a quantitative coupling reaction at 50 °C without metal catalysis, which opens up a simple and versatile route for surface functionalization under mild conditions without any potentially harmful additives.