AVS 52nd International Symposium
    Surface Science Tuesday Sessions
       Session SS-TuP

Paper SS-TuP1
Varying the Interfacial Structure of Alkanethiol Monolayers on Gold Through Controlled Thermal Desorption

Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 4:00 pm, Room Exhibit Hall C&D

Session: Surface Science Poster Session
Presenter: C.D. Zangmeister, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Authors: C.D. Zangmeister, National Institute of Standards and Technology
L.B. Picraux, National Institute of Standards and Technology
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This study investigates the formation of low-density, flat-lying decanethiol chemisorbed on Au prepared by heating the surface covered with a densely-packed, upright monolayer to a surface temperature above the onset of desorption. We determined conditions for preparing the low-density phase of decanethiol by observing the evolution of the surface and interfacial structure as a function of the surface temperature using polarized ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. The preparation conditions were similar for single- and polycrystalline gold surfaces. Once the low density decanethiol phase was formed, reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy was utilized to determine the orientation of the carbon chain backbone with respect to the Au surface.