Figure 3.

Schematic representation of SAM formation.

Notes: Thiols can be deposited onto gold substrates either through vapour deposition or from a solution [59], the sulphur head group of the thiol molecule forms a strong covalent bond with the gold (step 1). Low density adsorption causes the thiol to align parallel to the gold substrate, and upon a critical surface coverage, lateral pressure induces nucleation and heterogeneous island formation [53] (step 2) until full saturation is reached. The resulting SAM form packed 2D monolayers of thiol molecules, leading to effective close packed monolayers (step 3).