Ferrocenyl self-assembled monolayer on silicon surfaces: Preparation and current-voltage measurement

AP electroactive compound of ferrocene monocarboxylic acid N-10-undecenamide (Fc-CO-NH-(CH2)(9)-CH=CH2). (FcUA) was synthesized and then attached on H-terminated Si(100) surface by microwave irradiation. The monolayer was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and cyclic voltammograms (CV) measurements. Current-voltage measurements at room temperature were carried out through the ferrocene-terminated monolayer by current sensing atomic force microscopy (CSAFM). The results reveal. that the ferrocenyl monolayer improves the dielectric strength of the Metal(Pt)/Insulator(FcUA)/Metal(Si) structure. And NDR (negative differential resistance)-like peaks at the positive bias were also observed no matter it is n- or p-type of silicon.,