Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the solid-liquid interface enables structural characterization of monolayers and kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the self-assembly process. A two-component system using 1,5-substituted anthracene derivatives has been designed in an attempt to self-assemble monolayers with <u>statistically adjustable spacings</u> between “1-D strips” of one component (target) embedded in a matrix of the second component as diluent. We are analyzing (i) target strip length, (ii) monolayer composition and (iii) target strip spacing as a function of the two components' solution mole ratio, total concentration and sample processing conditions. Current results indicate that the initially formed monolayer morphology is kinetically trapped at room temperature. Samples annealed at elevated temperatures gradually achieve equilibrated monolayer morphologies exhibiting thermodynamically determined compositions, longer 1-D strips, and reduced defect and domain boundary densities. Increasing the solution concentration of the diluent increases <u>the mean spacing </u>of nearest 1-D strips in thermally annealed monolayers. These systems have potential as sub-50nm nano templates for use in nano-object patterning.

Studies of statistically patterned two-component self-assembled monolayers

249th National Meeting (2015)

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