Spread Coating of OPA on Mica:  From Multilayers to Self-Assembled Monolayers

• Published in: Langmuir Vol. 17; no. 26; pp. 8193 - 8198
• Main Authors: Neves, B. R. A, Salmon, M. E, Russell, P. E, Troughton, E. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 25.12.2001
• ISSN: 0743-7463; 1520-5827
• DOI: 10.1021/la010909a

The process of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formation by the spread coating of an octadecylphosphonic acid (OPA) solution onto a mica surface is investigated by atomic force microscopy. When concentrated solutions are employed, a novel mechanism of SAM formation is found:  OPA multilayers, mostly bilayers, are initially deposited on the mica surface. As time passes, these large multilayers break apart and evolve into disorganized monolayers. Following a rapid evolution, such monolayers are found to transform into well-ordered OPA self-assembled monolayers.