Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 2,5-[(E)-N-methyl-4-[2-[4-[(L)-prolinox
y]phenyl]ethenyl]-pyridinium p-toluensulfonate] (POST)(4)-ester and POST4-a
mide polymers were prepared on negatively charged solid substrates by the e
lectrostatic interaction between the chromophore and the substrate and char
acterized using W-vis spectroscopy, second harmonic generation intensity (S
HG) measurement, ellipsometry, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)
spectroscopy. Simultaneous measurements of W-vis absorption, SHG intensity
, and ellipsometry for the various reaction times indicated that the most d
ensely packed monolayers were found for the two samples. For POST4-ester: r
eaction time, 30 min; thickness, 12 Angstrom; tilt angle, 34.6 degrees; chr
omophore density, 3.43/nm(2). For POST4-amide: reaction time, 60 min; thick
ness, 6 Angstrom; tilt angle, 41.7 degrees; chromophore density, 3.60/nm(2)
. POST4-amide SAMs showed higher chromophore density and SHG intensity than
POST4-ester SAMs due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between amide
backbones. The order of the second-order susceptibility coefficient, d(33)
was measured to be ca. 400 pm/V for POST4-amide. In situ thermal relaxation
studies also revealed high thermal stability. For example, at a high tempe
rature of 120 degreesC, it was demonstrated that the chromophores inside SA
Ms were not disorganized but changed in their chemical structure due to the
chemical shift of the resonance balance between benzenoid and quinoid form
s of the chromophore.