Soft-chemical growth of gamma-FeO(OH) films on self-assembled monolayers of substituted alkylthiols on gold(111)

The placement of clean or specific thiol-coated gold surfaces in solutions of Fe-III that are below supersaturation results in the growth of thin film s of lepidocrocite gamma-FeO(OH) at room temperature. The use of gold subst rates has allowed a variety of characterization techniques to be employed t o monitor changes on the surface. Surface plasmon spectroscopy reveals the specific preference of the growing material for sulfonate-terminated surfac es, although high yields are also obtained on clean gold substrates. Mossba uer spectroscopy reveals that the deposited material displays particle size effects. The morphology of the gamma-FeO(OH) particles formed on the surfa ce has been detailed through atomic force microscopic investigations.