Atomic Force Mocroscopy Characterization of Thiols Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Surfaces

Self - assembled monolayers of n - butanethiol, n - dodecanethiol and their equimolar mixture on gold surfaces, were observed and characterized using atomic force microscope （AFM）. AFM images of three monolayers were obtained. All of the images exhibit a periodic hexagonal pattern of equivalent spacting, nearest - neighbor distances of 0. 50nm, 0. 52nm, 0. 52nm and 0. 51nm repectively. These spacings agree well with the analogous 0. 50nm distance of a （ \sqrt3×\sqrt3）R30° adlayer on a Au（111） lattice. The thicknesses of monolayers obtained with AFM, ARE 0. 67NM, 1. 60nm and 1. 30nm respectively.