GROWTH-KINETICS IN SELF-ASSEMBLING MONOLAYERS - A UNIQUE ADSORPTION MECHANISM

The adsorption kinetics of decanethiol (CH3(CH2)(9)SH) self-assembled from vapor on single crystal Au(111) surfaces have been investigated u sing grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. These in situ studies demons trate the existence of two distinct adsorption mechanisms, including a unique associative mechanism in which the growth rate increases quadr atically with the molecular impingement rate. These observations indic ate that the self-assembly kinetics in these membrane-like films are m ore complex than previous studies have suggested. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V.