Photo-modulation of the permeation in azobenzene derivatives monolayer films electrografted on carbon substrates

•Electrochemical preparation of azobenzene monolayers on carbon materials.•Electrografting of sylil-protected aryldiazonium salts.•Reversible variation of permeation on a modified carbon surface.•Electrochemical responses of redox probes on a blocked electrode.

Nanostructured monolayer of azobenzene derivatives was prepared on carbon materials. The method is based on the electrochemical reduction of a specific silyl-protected aryl diazonium salt followed by a deprotection step and a click chemistry coupling reaction. This procedure leads to a robust modification of the surface where molecular entities are placed in a “frozen” structuration thanks to the covalent nature of the modification. The photo-switchable properties of the surface were examined by electrochemistry using different redox probes. UV–visible light irradiation provides an easy way to reversibly modulate the permeability in a monolayer film grafted onto carbon materials.

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