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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

A Technique to Functionalize and Self-assemble Macroscopic Nanoparticle-ligand Monolayer Films onto Template-free Substrates
Published on: May 9, 2014
N-Heterocyclic Carbene Self-assembled Monolayers on Copper and Gold: Dramatic Effect of Wingtip Groups on Binding,
Christian R Larrea1, Christopher J Baddeley1, Mina R Narouz2
1EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Self-assembled monolayers of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on copper are reported. The monolayer structure is highly dependent on the N,N-substituents on the NHC. On both Cu(111) and Au(111), bulky isopropyl substituents force the NHC to bind perpendicular to the metal surface while methyl- or ethyl-substituted NHCs lie flat. Temperature-programmed desorption studies show that the NHC binds to Cu(111) with a desorption energy of Edes =152±10 kJ mol-1 . NHCs that bind upright desorb cleanly, while flat-lying NHCs decompose leaving adsorbed organic residues. Scanning tunneling microscopy of methylated NHCs reveals arrays of covalently linked dimers which transform into adsorbed (NHC)2 Cu species by extraction of a copper atom from the surface after annealing.
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