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N-Heterocyclic carbene-based gold etchants

N-Heterocyclic carbene-based gold etchants

Authors :
Robert B. Chevalier
Justin Pantano
Matthew K. Kiesewetter
Jason R. Dwyer
Source :
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 865-871 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
Beilstein-Institut, 2023.

Abstract

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are an emerging alternative to thiols for the formation of stable self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. We examined several different species that have been used to produce NHC-based monolayers on gold, namely 1,3-diisopropyl-5-nitrobenzimidazolium iodide, 1,3-diisopropyl-5-nitrobenzimidazolium hydrogen carbonate, bis(1,3-diisopropyl-5-nitrobenzimidazolium)gold(I) iodide, and 1,3-diisopropyl-5-nitrobenzimidazole-2-ylidene. Contrary to expectation, solutions containing the first two species in tetrahydrofuran and dichloromethane caused visible loss of gold from thin-film-coated glass slides. The use of toluene solutions of all species resulted in no apparent dissolution of gold. We present scanning electron micrographs and elemental imaging analyses by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to examine the effect of solutions of each species on the gold film. This work highlights the risk of unwanted etching during some routes to NHC-based surface functionalization but also the potential for deliberate etching, with the outcome determined by choice of chemically synthesized organic species and solvent.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21904286
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.1f72e0fb2e474a18bffa420be67c15ba
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.14.71