Structure and dynamics of monolayers on planar and cluster surfaces*
T. Pradeep and N. Sandhyarani**
Department of Chemistry and Regional Sophisticated
Instrumentation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai
600 036, India
Abstract: Organized molecular assemblies have been one of the
intensely pursued areas of contemporary chemistry. Among the various
methodologies used to make organized monolayer structures, self-assembled
monolayers (SAMs) have been attractive to many materials chemists owing
to the simplicity of the preparative method and high stability. Advances
in various techniques and their application in the study of SAMs have
significantly improved our understanding of these molecular systems.
These studies have been further intensified since the successful preparation
of stable metal clusters protected with monolayers. This article reviews
the structure, temperature-induced phase transitions, and associated
dynamics of monolayers, principally in the context of our own work in
this area. Alkanethiols on Au(111) and Ag(111) are taken as archetypal
systems to discuss the properties of 2D SAMs; studies from our laboratory
have been on evaporated thin films. Alkanethiols on Au and Ag cluster
surfaces are taken as examples of 3D SAMs. Although our principal focus
will be on alkanethiols, we will touch upon a few other adsorbate systems
as well.
* Special Topic Issue on the Theme
of Nanostructured Advanced Materials
**Corresponding author
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