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 language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2817-2820 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Thin Solid Films |
Volume | 519 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 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