Targeted self-replication of silane multilayers

Communication: A conceptually new type of multilayer self-assembly is described and its practical feasibility demonstrated for silane multilayers. This self-assembly permits more than a single monolayer to be added in a single assembly step, targeting of the bilayer self-replication to specific bilayers (by "labeling"), and manipulation of the bilayer "labeling" such as to create variable sequence patterns of replicative film growth. It is hoped that further developments will lead to the planned fabrication of a large variety of artificial layer materials with predefined molecular organization starting from a precursor monolayer.