K. Heister et al., Characterization of X-ray induced damage in alkanethiolate monolayers by high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy, LANGMUIR, 17(1), 2001, pp. 8-11
Synchrotron-based high-resolution X-ray. photoelectron spectroscopy was for
the first time applied to investigate the damage in self-assembled monolay
ers (SAMs) of alkanethiols (AT) on Au caused by soft X-rays. The observed c
hanges in AT SAMs and, in particular, the appearance of a new, irradiation-
induced sulfur species are identical to those caused by electron bombardmen
t, implying that most of the damage is produced by the photoelectrons and s
econdary electrons. The irradiation-induced sulfur species is identified as
a dialkyl sulfide distributed within the AT film. Only minutes of monochro
matized X-ray irradiation at an undulator beamline destroys the AT adlayer
completely.