Abstract

Stability of Self-Assembled Monolayers of Organic Acids on Cobalt
Kodjo, Nadejda; Reger, Nina; Gawalt, Ellen
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282

 Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are molecular assemblies formed spontaneously on metal oxide surfaces by adsorption.  The head groups of the adsorbing molecules strongly bind to the metallic surface.  This project is focused on determining the feasibility and conditions for forming self-assembled monolayers of phosphonic acid on cobalt oxide.  Samples were prepared using solution deposition.  The concentration for the solution was 0.017 g of ODPA.  The total time of deposition for success was 1 hour.  The surfaces were analyzed with infrared spectroscopy, which indicated that the monolayers formed.  To make sure that the monolayers were stable, the cobalt coupons went through a rinse in THF, HCl, or NaOH and were then sonicated.  The hydrophobicity of the SAM-modified surface was determined by using contact angle measurement.