title: Rearrangements in an alkylthiolate self-assembled monolayer using electrostatic interactions between nanoscale asperity and organomercaptan molecules.
abstract: Chemically induced rearrangements of amphifunctional molecules have been demonstrated using strong nonuniform electric fields (10(8)-10(10) V m(-1)) induced in the vicinity of nanoscale asperities. Electrostatic interactions utilizing these rearrangements of alkylthiolates assembled on Au(111) result in the nanopatterning of raised nanostructure (1.5-9 nm high, 15-100 nm wide) arrays on a second time scale by manipulating an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip above the monolayer. It is suspected that, as a result of the oxidative cleavage initiated by a weak bias of the tip, the S end of the alkylthiolate chain carrying a sulfenium cation is attracted to the (lifting) tip, forming bi- and higher-layer structures in the vicinity of the tip apex. Stabilization of the multiple-layered structures is accomplished via mutual attraction and entanglement of hydrocarbon chains. The rearrangements suggest a novel and general approach for nanoscale architecture in self-assembled systems.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA.
authors.forename: Pavel B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Paramonov
authors.forename: Sergei F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lyuksyutov
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Mayevska
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reagan
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tobari
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vaia
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Juhl