| AVS 65th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Thin Films Division | Tuesday Sessions |
| Session TF+SS-TuA |
| Session: | Organic/Inorganic Materials and Interfaces |
| Presenter: | Caitlin Hanna, University of California, Irvine |
| Authors: | C. Hanna, University of California, Irvine J. Yang, University of California, Irvine |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Immobilization of molecular species onto electrode surfaces is a strategy for the modification of surface properties with molecular specificity. Attachment of molecular fuel forming catalysts to photovoltaic electrodes, for example, is a promising route to efficient solar fuel generation. Current attachment methods are synthetically difficult and can have adverse effects on the electrode performance. This report describes a non-covalent method for molecular immobilization onto indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces. The fabrication, characterization, and electrochemical behavior of 1-pyrenylferrocene physisorbed onto ITO surfaces through π-π interactions is described. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry confirm the attachment of 1-pyrenylferrocene to the surface and highlight the stability of the system for aqueous electrochemical applications. The electron transfer kinetics between the ITO electrode and non-covalently attached ferrocene are compared to the kinetics of covalently-bound ferrocene. The kinetic studies of electron transfer show that electron transfer is ten times faster for non-covalently attached ferrocene than for covalently attached ferrocene.