SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY CAN FORM IMAGES OF PATTERNS IN SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS

Scanning electron microscopy is able to form images of patterns of sel f-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolates adsorbed on gold. The contrast in these images is unexpectedly sensitive to the structures of the components of the SAMs. Several factors contribute to the contr ast: the compositions of the SAMs; the compositions and quantities of adsorbates (both adventitious and intentional) on the SAMs; electron-b eam-induced processes involving the SAMs and these adsorbates.