Azide-modified graphitic surfaces for covalent attachment of alkyne-terminated molecules by click chemistry

Azide-modified graphitic surfaces were prepared by reaction with iodine azide. The surface-attached azides undergo the click reaction with alkyne-terminated molecules ethynylferrocene and 1-ethynyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene. Voltammetric and XPS analyses show the surface coverage of both the azide and the subsequent triazole of 2 x 10(13) molecules/cm(2). The 1,2,3-triazole linker is stable in an aqueous 1 M HCl solution for at least 60 min at 55 degrees C.