In-situ monitoring of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayer chemisorption with combined spectroscopic ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance techniques

K. B. Rodenhausen, B. A. Duensing, T. Kasputis, A. K. Pannier, T. Hofmann, M. Schubert, T. E. Tiwald, M. Solinsky, M. Wagner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed via chemisorption are important for a variety of surface enhancement and biological applications. We demonstrate that combinatorial spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) provides dynamic, in-situ characterization of the chemisorption process. In agreement with other studies, we find there are two steps for 1-decanethiol, an example alkanethiol SAM, chemisorption onto gold, which are a brief, fast phase followed by one that is long but slower. By using both the optical (SE) and mechanical (QCM-D) techniques, we show that the SAM porosity decreases during the second phase as the coupled ethanol solvent in the disorganized layer is replaced by more alkanethiol.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2817-2820
Number of pages4
JournalThin Solid Films
Volume519
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 28 2011

Keywords

  • Alkanethiols
  • Quartz crystal microbalance
  • SAMs
  • Self-assembled monolayers
  • Spectroscopic ellipsometry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Metals and Alloys
  • Materials Chemistry

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