Self-assembled Film of Cholesterol Molecules on the Au (111): An STM Study (original) (raw)

Self-assembled films of cholesterol were prepared on Au(111) surface and characterized by STM at nanometric level. In dependence of the concentration, two type of films were observed: one in the form of molecular monolayer and second with molecules organized in the square boxes, as a building blocks of the assembly layer. Both arrangements were characterized in great details which offers new insides into determination of molecular position, conformation and mechanism of the film growth. Accommodation of the cholesterol into the self-assembly layers was explained by help of molecular models developed in this study. The obtained finding are interesting from the fundamental as well from the technological point of view, in terms of better understanding of the process related to the functionalization of the metallic surface, and future design of the nano-scale devices (i.e. bio-medical sensors).