Abstract

Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) are potentially useful for corrosion inhibition, wear protection, and organic sensors. Perhaps the best characterized SAM system is CH₃(CH₂)_n~1SH, (C_n), adsorbed on an Au surface. The C_n/Au system, specifically its surface and chain orientation, have been widely studied.^1-3 Despite all the available experimental results, the location of sulfur chemisorption sites is known only by inference. The conventional belief has been that the S atoms reside at hollow sites of the gold substrate, generating a simple $\left(\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}\right)\text{R}30°$. The location of these sites is essential for a detailed evaluation of Au—S, Au—Au and S—S bonds at the interface.

© 1995 Optical Society of America