Surface Characterization of Sulfur and Alkanethiol Self- Assembled Monolayers on Au(111)

C. VERICAT,; M.E. VELA,; A. BENITEZ, G.; MARTIN GAGO, J.A.; X. TORRELLES,; R.C. SALVAREZZA

JOURNAL OF PHYSICS CONDENSED MATTER

Institute of Physics

Año: 2006 vol. 18 p. 867 - 900

0953-8984

In the last two decades surface science techniques have decisively contributed  to our present knowledge of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)  on solid surfaces. These organic layers have been a challenge for surface  scientists, in particular because of the soft nature of the organic material  (which can be easily damaged by irradiation), the large number of atoms  present in the molecules, and the complex physical chemistry involved in the  self-assembly process. This challenge has been motivated by the appealing  technological applications of SAMs that cover many fields of the emerging area  of nanotechnology. Sulfur (S) is closely related to alkanethiols and can be used  to understand basic aspects of the surface structure of SAMs. In this review we  focus on the atomic/molecular structures of S-containing SAMs on Au(111).  Particular emphasis is given to the substrate, adsorption sites, chemical state  of the S–metal bond and also to the experimental and theoretical tools used to  study these structures at the atomic or molecular levels.