Growth of Multilayers of Ionic Liquids on Au(111) Investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy in Ultrahigh Vacuum.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the growth of ultrathin films of ionic liquids (ILs) on metal surfaces is of highest relevance for a variety of applications. We present a detailed study of the growth of the wetting layer and successive multilayers of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([C₁C₁Im][Tf₂N]) on Au(111). By atomic force microscopy (AFM) in ultrahigh vacuum, we follow the temperature-dependent behavior between 110 and 300 K at defined coverages. We initially observe the formation of a wetting layer with a thickness of ∼0.37 nm with anions and cations arranged in a checkerboard structure. Stable AFM imaging up to 280 K allows us to follow the IL growing on top of the wetting layer in bilayers with an average thickness of ∼0.71 nm, that is, dou

SUBMITTER: Meusel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7676296 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature