Structural Characterization of Organothiolate Adlayers on Gold:  The Case of Rigid, Aromatic Backbones

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 17; no. 12; pp. 3689 - 3695
• Main Authors: Fuxen, Claus, Azzam, Waleed, Arnold, Ralf, Witte, Gregor, Terfort, Andreas, Wöll, Christof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 12-06-2001
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la0018033

Here, we present the results of a detailed characterization of rigid-rod thiolate adlayers on Au(111) made by self-assembly of organothiols containing a terphenyl backbone, namely, p-terphenylthiol (TPT, C6H5−(C6H4)2−SH) and p-terphenylmethanethiol (TPMT, C6H5−(C6H4)2−CH2−SH) on Au(111). The results of low energy electron diffraction measurements reveal the presence of long-range order for adlayers prepared from both molecules. From the body of data obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared reflection−absorption spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure measurements, and scanning tunneling microscopy, a structure model for adlayers of TPT and TPMT on Au(111) is proposed.