Formation of patterned PbS and ZnS films on self-assembled monolayers

Patterned arrays of PbS and ZnS crystals were produced using growth templat es of patterned self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), prepared with methyl and carboxylate terminated thiols on Au. The PbS and ZnS crystals were deposite d using chemical solution deposition and the successive ionic layer adsorpt ion and reaction (SILAR) methods, respectively. Crystal growth was necessar ily directed to the hydrophilic areas of the substrate. Characterisation of the films was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and sur face plasmon microscopy (SPM). SPM, as a very sensitive technique for imagi ng thin films of low contrast, was demonstrated to be highly suited to the analysis of the ZnS samples. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights rese rved.