Thiol dosing of ZnO single crystals and nanorods: Surface chemistry and photoluminescence

Adsorption of thiols on ZnO(0001) and ZnO nanorods has been investigated using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS and UPS). Ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) dosing of sputter-cleaned ZnO(0001) with methanethiol (MT), 1-dodecanethiol (DDT), and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) leads to S2p peaks with a binding energy of 163.3 eV. Similar results for MPTMS are obtained for sputter-cleaned ZnO(0001) that is pre-dosed with water to form hydroxyl groups. In all cases, the absence of a free thiol S2p peak at 164.2 eV indicates that bonding to the surface occurs via the thiol end of the molecule. A DDT-dosed ZnO(0001) sample stored for 10 days in UHV and heated to temperatures as high as 150 °C exhibits minimal changes in its S/Zn atomic ratio, confirming chemisorption and the presence of a strong bond to the surface. UPS shows that MT adsorption on sputtered ZnO(0001) leads to a 0.7 eV increase in work function and perturbation of the MT molecular orbitals, again consistent with chemisorption. Dry ZnO nanorods have been exposed to MT while monitoring their photoluminescence. XPS and Raman spectroscopy confirm thiol adsorption. Relative to dry ZnO, adsorption causes a decrease in intensity of the visible emission peak, but the UV peak remains unchanged. These results indicate that ZnS bond formation quenches radiative decay to the valence band from defect states, possibly by methanethiolate adsorption filling oxygen vacancies.

► Thiols and mercaptosilanes chemisorb on clean ZnO(0001) surfaces via the formation of ZnS bonds. ► Methanethiol adsorption on ZnO(0001) leads to a 0.7 eV increase in work function. ► Photoemission indicates that the ZnO(0001) surface perturbs methanethiol orbitals. ► Methanethiol adsorption occurs on ZnO nanorods, causing dramatic changes in photoluminescence.