Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Reverse Self-Assembly: (111)-Oriented Gold Crystallization at Alkylthiol Monolayer Templates

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
It has long been known that thiol-terminated molecules self-assemble as commensurate monolayers on Au(111) surfaces. By spreading floating octadecanethiol monolayers on aqueous solutions of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and using x rays to reduce the gold ions as well as to probe the structure, we have observed the nucleation of (111)-oriented Au nanoparticles at thiol surfaces. This process may be similar to the formation of biogenic gold by bacteria. The thiol monolayer acts as a 'soft template,' changing its structure as Au crystals form so that there is a {radical}3 x {radical}3 commensurate relationship.
Research Organization:
BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY (BNL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
1041686
Report Number(s):
BNL--97364-2012-JA
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 107; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Reverse Self-Assembly: (111)-Oriented Gold Crystallization at Alkylthiol Monolayer Templates
Journal Article · Sun Feb 05 23:00:00 EST 2012 · Phys. Rev. Lett. · OSTI ID:1025634

Chain length dependence of the striped phases of alkanethiol monolayers self-assembled on Au(111): An atomic beam diffraction study
Journal Article · Wed May 29 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Langmuir · OSTI ID:263199

Formation of a self-assembled monolayer by adsorption of thiophene on Au(111) and its photooxidation
Journal Article · Tue Dec 24 23:00:00 EST 1996 · Langmuir · OSTI ID:458639