Influence of Molecular Arrangement in Self‐Assembled Monolayers on Adhesion Forces Measured by Chemical Force Microscopy

Is it chemistry or physics? Chemical force microscopy (CFM), which combines atomic force microscopy with chemical sensitivity, was used to discriminate between CH3-terminated monolayers obtained from thiol, chlorosilane, or methoxysilane precursors (see diagram). The authors show that, besides surface chemistry and mechanical properties, other parameters can contribute strongly to the measured adhesion forces in water and thus determine the contrast observed by CFM.