Solvent Effect on the Structure of the Self-Assembled Monolayer of Alkanethiol

Structures of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of decanethiol on Au(111) surface prepared in ethanol, toluene, DMF and heptane solution were examined by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and electrochemical reductive desorption measurement in 0.5 M KOH aqueous solution. While no significant difference was detected in the reductive desorption measurement except for the SAM prepared in heptane, the STM observation showed that domain size and pit size were strongly affected by solvent.