TY - JOUR
T1 - Using X-rays to characterize the process of self-assembly in real time
AU - Richter, A. G.
AU - Yu, C. J.
AU - Datta, A.
AU - Kmetko, J.
AU - Dutta, P.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the US Department of Energy under Grant DE-FG02-84ER45125. It was performed at Sector 10 (MRCAT) of the Advanced Photon Source, and at the National Synchrotron Light Source; these facilities are also supported by the US Department of Energy.
PY - 2002/2/18
Y1 - 2002/2/18
N2 - We have performed in situ X-ray reflectivity studies of the growth of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) monolayers on oxidized Si(111) from solutions in heptane. We find that for all concentrations, the film grows through the formation of islands of vertical molecules. The coverage follows a simple Langmuir form as a function of time, except for very low concentration solutions at early times, where a time offset is required to fit the curve. We have also examined films removed from solution, and we find that rinsing removes molecules and causes the remaining molecules to tilt. Thus, samples studied using the 'interrupted growth' technique are not representative of the actual growth process.
AB - We have performed in situ X-ray reflectivity studies of the growth of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) monolayers on oxidized Si(111) from solutions in heptane. We find that for all concentrations, the film grows through the formation of islands of vertical molecules. The coverage follows a simple Langmuir form as a function of time, except for very low concentration solutions at early times, where a time offset is required to fit the curve. We have also examined films removed from solution, and we find that rinsing removes molecules and causes the remaining molecules to tilt. Thus, samples studied using the 'interrupted growth' technique are not representative of the actual growth process.
KW - Monolayer growth X-rays
KW - Octadecyltrichlorosilane
KW - Self-assembly
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U2 - 10.1016/S0927-7757(01)00908-6
DO - 10.1016/S0927-7757(01)00908-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:18344417989
VL - 198-200
SP - 3
EP - 11
JO - Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
JF - Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
SN - 0927-7757
ER -