AVS 45th International Symposium
    Organic Electronic Materials Topical Conference Tuesday Sessions
       Session OE+BI+EM-TuA

Paper OE+BI+EM-TuA6
Control of Self-Assembled Monolayer Film Structure and Properties

Tuesday, November 3, 1998, 3:40 pm, Room 327

Session: Organic Thin Film Growth
Presenter: L.F. Charles, The Pennsylvania State University
Authors: P.S. Weiss, The Pennsylvania State University
L.F. Charles, The Pennsylvania State University
L.A. Bumm, The Pennsylvania State University
T.D. Dunbar, The Pennsylvania State University
D.L. Allara, The Pennsylvania State University
Correspondent: Click to Email
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used to investigate self-assembled film formation of molecules in single and varied compositions of alkanethiols on Au(111). While the average surface composition of these films typically reflects that of the deposition solution, STM is used to determine the position and motion of these molecules on the surface. We also use STM to measure electron transport through these molecules to ascertain the roles of chain length and chemical contact with the substrate. We discuss how spacer molecules such as adamantanethiol (C10H15SH) can be used to isolate other molecules for such studies. Our investigation of this system shows that ordered films can be produced from such molecules for this purpose. Unlike alkanethiolate films, this produces structural domain boundaries and other defects that do not involve significant conformation relaxation. In our studies we focus on the modification of self-assembled surfaces to tailor the films to our needs. Our growing abilities to control the placement of molecules within these films are presented.