@article {141, title = {Adsorption of oriented carborane dipoles on a silver surface}, journal = {Physica Status Solidi B}, volume = {253}, year = {2016}, month = {10 DEC 2015}, pages = {591-600}, abstract = {
Modification of surfaces with self-assembled mono-layers (SAMs) represents a powerful and innovative tool for adjusting physical and chemical properties of surfaces. The adsorption of isomeric molecules with relatively strong and oppositely oriented molecular dipoles, 1,2-(HS)2-1,2-C2B10H10 and 9,12-(HS)2-1,2-C2B10H10, on a flat silver surface is investigated in order to adjust its work function in a desired way. Time-offlight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to prove that both isomers (i) chemisorb on a silver surface as thiolates and (ii) exhibit comparable surface densities. Densely packed surfaces of both SAMs are additionally investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and effective surface passivation is observed. Co-deposition of both derivatives is shown to enable effective and fine adjustment of the surface work function value within a range of 1V, which is confirmed by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). Experimental data indicate faster SAM formation for the former isomer. Contribution of the interface Ag{\textendash}S bonds to the work function changes is quantified.
}, keywords = {carborane, Kelvin probe force microscopy, self-assembled monolayers, silver, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy}, doi = {10.1002/pssb.201552446}, author = {Aliaksei Vetushka and Laetitia Bernard and Olga Guseva and Zdenek Bastl and Ji{\v r}{\'\i} Plocek and Ivo Tomandl and Antonin Fejfar and Tomas Base and Patrik Schmutz} }