Chemically Sensitive Interfacial Force Microscopy: Contact Potential Measurements of Self-Assembling Monolayer Films

Abstract

We report contact potential difference (CPD) measurements of n- alkanethiol self-assembling monolayers (SAMs) adsorbed to Au substrates using an organomercaptan-modified Au probe. Our results demonstrate for the first time the feasibility and importance of controlling the chemical properties of force microscope probe surfaces. Moreover, control over the chemical characteristics of the probe provides a basis for distinguishing between chemically distinct surface features with nanometer resolution in force microscopy. We show that CPD values obtained using Au probes modified with methyl-terminated SAMs are stable and reproducible, whereas identical unmodified probes yield highly variable data. Our experimentally determined CPD values are in qualitative agreement with calculated CPDs for several Omega-terminated SAMs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 23, 1993
Accession Number
ADA273135

Entities

People

  • J. E. Houston
  • P. Tangyunyong
  • R. C. Thomas
  • R. M. Crooks
  • T. A. Michalske

Organizations

  • University of New Mexico

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Chemical Properties
  • Chemistry
  • Crystal Structure
  • Energy
  • Films
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Microscopes
  • Microscopy
  • Military Research
  • Monomolecular Films
  • New Mexico
  • Self Assembled Monolayers
  • Substrates
  • Work Functions

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electrochemical Surface Science
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Thin Film Deposition Science.