Studying and controlling reactions at surfaces is of great fundamental and applied interest in, amongst others, biology, electronics and catalysis. Monolayers are an excellent platform to investigate interfacial reactions and reactivity because of the ability to precisely control surface composition.Here we focus on the electrochemical production of solution gradients of a catalyst (Cu(I)) for controlling and monitoring the reactivity of the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) at surfaces in space and time in a high-throughput manner. Using this method, the reaction order in Cu(I) could be determined and spatially visualized in a 2D reactivity map.Furthermore, we demonstrate that changing the reaction conditions of the CuAAC reaction (e.g. catalyst and/or ligand concentration, reaction time, applied potential difference, etc.), we exert control over the shape of the micron-scale surface gradients, in terms of steepness and surface density. By means of this technique, we attest the fabrication of bi-component and bio-molecular gradients.

Surface gradients via electrochemically activated "click" chemistry: Reactivity mapping and shape control at the micron scale

245th National Meeting (2013)

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