Formation of the bismuth thiolate compound layer on bismuth surface

The structure and composition of thiolate multilayers formed at bismuth monocrystal electrodes from solutions of 1-octadecanethiol and 1-decanethiol in ethanol at open circuit potential are characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance and infrared reflectance spectroscopy, optical microscopy and AFM methods. Analysis of results demonstrates that after holding of Bi(h k l) electrodes during some hours in solution of thiol in ethanol bismuth is covered with a thick porous layer of bismuth thiolate compound. For the verification of formed thiolate layers the new compounds tris(1-octadecylthio)bismuthine and tris(1-decylthio)bismuthine were also synthesised from bismuth(III)oxide and thiol in hexane solution and a similarity of properties with the bismuth thiolate compounds, formed at the bismuth electrode surface, has been demonstrated.