Vibrational sum-frequency generation study of molecular structure, sterical constraints and nonlinear optical switching contrast of mixed alkyl-azobenzene self-assembled monolayers

Abstract

Abstract Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of azobenzene (AB) functionalized alkyl thiols on gold diluted with simple alkyl thiols provide a straightforward way to photochromic surfaces with high and tunable photoswitching efficiency. Trans-cis isomerization of the AB molecule changes the physical properties of the surface, including the nonlinear optical (NLO) response. Vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy as a nonlinear type of laser spectroscopy offers surface- and orientation-sensitive insight into the molecular structure of mixed SAMs. In this study, VSFG as well as ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the morphology, molecular structure, and NLO response of mixed SAMs with systematically varied surface composition. Methylazobenzene (MeAB) has been used as the molecular switch with the methyl substituent serving as orientational VSFG marker. Both short-chain and long-chain alkyl thiol co-ligands have been used to gain insight into the interplay between SAM structure and sterical constraints that are known to limit the free switching volume. Underlining the dominating role of sterical effects for controlling photochromic properties, a strong inhibition of the photoswitching efficiency and NLO response has been observed for the SAMs with an alkyl thiol co-ligand long enough to spatially extend into the layer of the MeAB chromophore. Overall, with <12% signal change, the relative NLO switching contrasts remained low in all cases. VSFG spectral trends clearly revealed that the presumably higher photoswitching efficiency upon dilution with the co-ligand is counteracted by a loss of structural order of the chromophore.