A New Approach to the Electrochemical Metallization of Organic Monolayers: Palladium Deposition onto a 4,4′‐Dithiodipyridine Self‐Assembled Monolayer

Abstract

Depositing metal layers onto a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is achieved using a new technique. Au(111) bearing a 4,4′-dithiodipyridine SAM is immersed into a PdII solution without potential control, causing PdII to adsorb on the surface by forming a complex with the pyridine species. The PdII ions are then electrochemically reduced to Pd0 (see Figure). Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements unequivocally show that the reduced Pd resides on top of the SAM.