Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.107, No.16, 3703-3711, 2003
Electrochemical deposition of biferrocene derivative-attached gold nanoparticles and the morphology of the formed film
The electrodeposition phenomenon of octyl thiolate-stabilized gold nanoparticles with a 2.3 +/- 0.5 nm core diameter modified with biferrocene-terminated alkanethiolates on their surface (Au-n-BFc) has been investigated using cyclic voltammetry, STM and AFM morphological observation, and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) of the deposited Au-n-BFc film. Consecutive potential scans causing two-step oneelectron oxidation of the biferrocene units of Au-n-BFc in CH2Cl2 electrolyte solution produce the adhesive Au-n-BFc film on electrode surface. The deposition rate is lower for the biferrocene derivative on one particle theta(BFc) with a smaller modification number and a kind of electrolyte anion: ClO4- similar to BF4- much greater than PF6-. The STM and AFM images have revealed that the thickness of the Au,-BFc film grows gradually by increasing the number of cyclic scans, forming many monolayer-level domains with ca. 80 nm diameter of the assembled Au-n-BFcs. The average interparticle spacing of neighboring Au-n-BFcs in the film is 7.5 nm, which is longer than the estimated diameter of whole Au-n-BFc species (5.9 nm). Analysis of boron in the film electrodeposited in Bu4NBF4-CH2Cl2 by the prompt gamma-ray neutron activation (PGA) method shows that the BF4- ion is incorporated in the film. EQCM measurement suggests that not only ions but also the included CH2Cl2 solvent molecules in the film are moved in and out reversibly in a potential range of E2(0)' of Au-n-BFc. These results indicate that the formation of ionic lattice including Au-n-BFc(2+) and counterion is accompanied by the exclusion of CH2Cl2 solvent molecules among the particles in the initial deposition process.