XPS STUDY OF METAL-SULFUR BONDS IN METAL-ALKANETHIOLATE MATERIALS

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate th e nature of the chemical bond occurring at the interface between an ad sorbed alkanethiol and a metal. Both thiolate-capped colloids and meta l-thiolate layered compounds have been studied. Only one sulfur specie s was found, and the S 2s binding energy (BE) was found to depend on t he nature of the metal. XPS peaks ascribed to Ag and Au core levels ar e not sensitive to the oxidation state of the metal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.