Abstract

In this paper we present different experiments describing the fabrication and characterisation of self-assembled monolayers of organothiols and also discuss some of the most important applications of these systems.

The reader may practise the fabrication and characterisation of self-assembled monolayers with different endgroups by adsorption of CH₃- and Oh-terminated alkanethiols on copper-coins (1 or 2 Pfenningcoins). Then patterned self-assembled monolayers of CH₃- and OH-terminated alkanethiols are produced by applying the microcontact printing technique.

When these gratings are wet with water-e.g. by breathing into the surfaces-the water adsorbs onto the hydrophilic OH-terminated areas but not on the hydrophobic CH₃-terminated regions.

Illumination with a laser then produces bright diffraction spots which disappear when the water evaporates. Finally, we briefly discuss applications of the self-assembled ultrathin films as sensor-devices and as substrates for CVD (chemical vapour deposition).

 

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