Langmuir, Vol.23, No.2, 542-548, 2007
Charge-transfer complex study by chemical force spectroscopy: A dynamic force spectroscopic approach
Charge-transfer interaction, as a reversible and rapid phenomenon, was evidenced by force microscopy. Pull-off forces were measured between a tip grafted with a trinitrofluorenone derivative and a surface functionalized with an electron-rich aromatic anthracene compound in a dodecane environment. The effect of the sweep time on the measured interaction forces is described, together with an extensive study of a competitive influence of free aromatic molecules in dodecane diluted solutions. These forces depend on the nature of the competitor and its concentration as well as on the velocity of tip/sample separation.