X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the effect of alkyl- and arylthio substituents on manganese phthalocyanines for self-assembled monolayer formation on gold

•Self assembled monolayers of aryl and alkylthio manganese phthalocyanines are formed.•X-ray photoelectron spectra are used to characterize the monolayers.•Arylthio forms better monolayers than alkylthio.•The monolayers were used to detect thiocyanate with good sensitivity.

Self-assembled monolayers of an octa-substituted alkylthio and arylthio manganese phthalocyanines were formed on gold. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyse both of the phthalocyanine layers on gold. Approximately 60% of the sulphur groups in the aryl substituted-SAM surface were bound to gold through the cleavage of the CS bond, as opposed to only 37% for the alkyl substituted-SAM.

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