Copper Protection by Phosphonic Acid Self-Assembled Monolayers

the formation and the protection properties against corrosion provided by self-assembled monolayers (sams) onto non-noble metals, such as copper, are described using molecules with long alkyl (decane) chains and phosphonate as anchoring group. the assembly of stable and densely packed monolayers has been achieved both on naked copper and on the metal after controlled anodic oxidation, conducted with the purpose to create different sorts of copper oxide thin films, simulating diverse possible situations. surface characterisation techniques (contact angle measurements and atomic force microscopy) are employed to access the properties of the so-modified electrodes; in addition, the influence of each type of copper oxide on the proficiency of sams protection has been retrieved from comparative studies based on polarisation curves, carried out in sodium chloride.