For over 30 years, materials scientists have been able to coat metals with layers of organic compounds only a single molecule thick; these ultra-thin coatings are used in microelectronics, medicine and biosensing. However, so far all of these rely on a bond between the metal and sulfur, which can be easily broken by heat or reaction with oxygen.
Now, researchers have designed coatings that replace the metal-sulfur bond with a metal-carbon bond that stands up to much harsher conditions. The technology could greatly expand the use of these ultra-thin coatings.
Original research paper published in the journal Nature Chemistry on March 23, 2014.
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