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. 2018 Oct 4;8(10):788. doi: 10.3390/nano8100788

Table 1.

Comparison of properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of different molecules.

SAM Advantages Limitations Quality
Alkanoic acid
  • -

    Wide range of carboxylates with different functionalities available

  • -

    Environmentally friendly

  • -

    Densely packed SAMs
  • -

    Hydrolytically unstable in aqueous media

  • -

    Relatively easy desorption and exchange

 Good
Organophosphonates
  • -

    Stable and highly resistant to hydrolysis

  • -

    Densely packed SAMs
  • -

    Potential precipitation of phosphonates

 Excellent
Organosilanes
  • -

    Rapid covalent binding with substrates

  • -

    Further chemical modification without compromising the integrity of SAMs
  • -

    Difficult to obtain uniform SAMs with limited packing density

  • -

    High reactivity

  • -

    Hydrolytically unstable under aqueous and humid conditions

  • -

    Limited reproducibility

 Excellent
Organosulfurs
  • -

    Simple and well-established self-assembly process
  • -

    Prone to oxidation upon air exposure

  • -

    Rapid decomposition at high temperature

  • -

    Undergo displacement when exposed to adsorbates

  • -

    Conformational defects and cross-contamination

 Good
Alkenes and alkynes
  • -

    Good stability in water and high temperature

  • -

    Ease of further (bio)functionalization
  • -

    Disordered SAMs

  • -

    Low surface coverage due to poor reaction kinetics

 Excellent