We have used the Cu(I)-catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC) �click� reaction to link Ru-based coordination complexes to nanostructured SnO2 surfaces and have characterized the resulting electrochemical and photoelectrochemical response.  We demonstrate that photochemical grafting of short-chain alkenes with a terminal alcohol group can serve as a robust starting point for surface-based �click� grafting of alkyne-modified coordination complexes to azide-terminated SnO2 nanoparticle films, SnO2 nanorods, and fluorinated tin oxide films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared measurements were used to establish successful click reactions. Electrochemical measurements and time-resolved surface photovoltage measurements show that once bound to the SnO2 the complexes remain stable and are electrochemically and photoelectrochemically active with good electron-transfer characteristics. These results demonstrate that the CuAAC reaction provides a versatile approach to formation of photochemically active metal oxide surfaces.

Assembly and characterization of covalently tethered Ru coordination complexes on nanostructured oxides via "click" chemistry

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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