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Surface stress, kinetics, and structure of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayersMichel GodinThe self-assembly of alkanethiol monolayers on gold surfaces was investigated using a cantilever-based chemical sensor, a combined cantilever-based sensor and ellipsometer, and a scanning tunelling microscope. Alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAM) are seen as a model for various other self-assembled systems. Our interest is mainly aimed at using this class of SAMs for chemical sensing applications. Our results shed light onto the mechanisms that drive the self-assembly process. Specifically, we measure the surface stress induced during the formation of alkanethiol SAMs, and correlate this surface stress with specific structural phases that occur during formation. Moreover, we develop simple models used to determine the physical origins of the observed surface stress.
Tuesday, October 26th 2004, 15:30
Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, Board Room (room 104) |