Monolayers of a Fourth-Generation Thiol-Terminated Dendrimer

Abstract

A fourth-generation dendrimer with 96 thiol functions at its periphery (G4-SH) is used to generate monolayers on various substrates. Whereas gold surfaces tend to organize the approximately 7−8 nm molecules as islands, on mica surfaces G4-SH gives a filament-like pattern that changes to islands in the course of 24 h. Closed monolayers could be gained on silicon by using a special experimental set up. AFM has been applied to show more or less defect free areas of up to 25 μm 2 . The height was determined and found to be reduced by about 70% compared with the size in solution due to the loss of solvent.