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The influence of surface proximity on photoswitching activity of stilbene-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene
Shahar Dery1, Israel Alshanski1, Evgeniy Mervinetsky1
1Institute of Chemistry and The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel. shlomo.yitzchaik@mail.huji.ac.il mattan.hurevich@mail.huji.ac.il elad.gross@mail.huji.ac.il.
Abstract:
Self-assembly of photo-responsive molecules is a robust technology for reversibly tuning the properties of functional materials. Herein, we probed the crucial role of surface-adsorbate interactions on the adsorption geometry of stilbene-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes (stilbene-NHCs) monolayers and its impact on surface potential. Stilbene-NHCs on Au film accumulated in a vertical orientation that enabled high photoisomerization efficiency and reversible changes in surface potential. Strong metal-adsorbate interactions led to flat-lying adsorption geometry of stilbene-NHCs on Pt film, which quenched the photo-isomerization influence on surface potential. It is identified that photo-induced response can be optimized by positioning the photo-active group in proximity to weakly-interacting surfaces.
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