Self-assembled monolayers of thiolates on metals as a form of nanotechnology

An overview is given of the preparation, formation, structure, and applications of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed from alkanethiols (and derivatives of alkanethiols) on gold, silver, copper, palladium, platinum, mercury, and alloys of these metals. Emphasis is on advances made in this area over the past five years (1999-2004). First, the structure and mechanism of formation of SAMs formed by adsorption of n-alkanethiols on metals are described. Following this, the applications of SAMs where they act as nanostructures themselves, enable other nanosystems, interact with biological nanostructures, and form patterns on surfaces with critical dimensions below 100 nm are outlined. Furthermore, an attempt is made to outline what is not understood about these SAMs and which of their properties are not yet controlled. Finally, some of the important opportunities that still remain for future progress in research involving SAMs are sketched.