Translational Diffusion Dynamics in Divalent Metal-Phosphonate Monolayers.

Self-assembled monolayers are attractive for surface modification due to their ease of synthesis and the range of chemical functionality that can be applied. Metal-phosphonate monolayer properties can be controlled through the metal ions that can be used in their formation. The organization and fluid properties of these monolayers can be understood in the context of their thermodynamic properties and the association and dissociation kinetics that proceed at the metal-phosphonate complex. In this work, four different M(II)-phosphonate monolayers were synthesized and the diffusional behavior of free and tethered chromophores was evaluated using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements. The ω-terminal group identity of the metal-phosphonate monolayer was varied to determine its effect on monolayer dynamics.