ABSTRACT
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are highly ordered two-dimensional (2D) arrays that form spontaneously by chemisorption and self-organization of functionalized long-chain organic molecules on the surfaces of appropriate solid substrates (Ulman, 1991; Whitesides and Laibinis, 1990). The formation of SAMs represents a good example of molecular self-assembly, in which molecules organize themselves into stable welldefined structures by non-covalent forces (Lehn, 1990; Whitesides et al., 1991; Whitesides, 1995). The key idea in self-assembly is that the final structure is defined and directed by the intrinsic characteristics-for example, shape, length, and functionalityof the starting molecules (Isaacs et al., 1999). Because self-assembly usually leads to an equilibrium state that is at, or close to a free energy minimum, the self-assembling structure tends to be self-healing, defect-rejecting, and capable of achieving a greater order than can be reached by non-self-assembling approaches (Whitesides, 1995).
