A system based on metal alkyl species that forms chemically bound organic overlayers on hydroxylated planar surfaces

We report the growth of chemically-bound organic overlayers on planar hydro xylated oxide surfaces, oxidized silicon and glass, using dimethyl-zinc plu s alkane-thiols. Infrared spectroscopy of the layers indicates that they ar e similar in density and ordering to self-assembled octadecyl-trichlorosila ne layers. Similar reactions can also be used to grow multilayer structures . When multilayers are grown, significant smoothing of the surface is noted . The strategies reported here lend themselves to the production of nanocom posite materials consisting of alternating layers of organic and inorganic material. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.