Enantiospecific electrodeposition of chiral CuO films on single-crystal Cu(111).
Epitaxial films of monoclinic CuO have been electrodeposited on single-crystal Cu(111) from solutions containing either (S,S)- or (R,R)-tartrate. X-ray pole figure analysis reveals that the CuO film grown from (S,S)-tartrate exhibits a (1) out-of-plane orientation while the film grown from (R,R)-tartrate has a (11) orientation. Even though CuO does not crystallize within a chiral space group, the orientations obtained exhibit a surface chirality similar to that obtained from high index fcc metal surfaces. The films were shown to be enantioselective toward the catalytic oxidation of tartrate molecules by cyclic voltammetry. The technique should prove to be applicable to the electrodeposition of chiral surfaces of other low-symmetry materials on achiral substrates and should prove to be of use to those interested in the synthesis, separation, and detection of chiral molecules.
Bohannan
Eric W
EW
Department of Chemistry and Graduate Center for Materials Research, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, Missouri 65409-1170, USA.
Kothari
Hiten M
HM
Nicic
Igor M
IM
Switzer
Jay A
JA
D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013644:Tartrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D013644:Tartrates; D003300:Copper; C030973:cupric oxide