Formation and Superlattice of Alkylthiocyanate Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111)

Abstract

Alkylthiocyanate (ATC) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) were fabricated by both solution and ambient-vapor deposition techniques at room temperature and 50 °C. Surface structures and adsorption conditions of ATC SAMs were characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). STM study revealed that the adsorption of ATC molecules can form ordered SAMs from vapor deposition. From this study, we found that vapor deposition is more suitable for the fabrication of high-quality thiocyanate SAMs on gold compared to solution deposition techniques.