Image of the Month

December 2014

Decanethiolates in Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au(111) Studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

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Sequence (A−D) of STM images (100 nm × 100 nm) showing dynamic behavior of a decanethiolate SAM on the Au(111) at room temperature (293 K). The surface exhibits three ordered phases (β, δ, and χ*) and one disordered phase (ε). The solid line marks a domain boundary between the ordered β phase and the disordered ε phase, while the dashed line marks a χ*−ε domain boundary. The sample bias is 1.2 V and the tunnel current is 190 pA. The time lapse between consecutive images is 420 s. (E, F) Line profiles taken across the β and δ phases, respectively. The stripe widths are (E) 3.3 nm and (F) 2.2 nm.

Credits: Kai Sotthewes,†,§ Hairong Wu,†,‡,§ Avijit Kumar,† G. Julius Vancso,‡ Peter M. Schön,‡
and Harold J. W. Zandvliet*,†Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials and ‡Materials Science and Technology of Polymers, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands

Microscope: UHV 3000

Control System: SPM 1000