Gold-thiolate cluster emission from SAMs under keV ion bombardment: Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations

B. Arezki, A. Delcorte, A. C. Chami, B. J. Garrison, P. Bertrand

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this contribution the emission of gold-molecule cluster ions from self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols on gold is investigated using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Layers of alkanethiols [CH3(CH2)nSH] with various chain lengths (n=8, 12, 16) have been chosen because they form well-ordered molecular monolayers on gold. First, we compare and interpret the yields and energy spectra of gold-thiolate cluster ions, obtained for different thiol sizes. Our results show that the unimolecular dissociation of larger aggregates in the acceleration section of the spectrometer constitutes a significant formation channel for gold-molecule clusters. Second, we present preliminary results of molecular dynamics simulations performed in order to improve our understanding of the cluster emission processes. These calculations have been conducted using 8 keV projectiles and a long-range term in the hydrocarbon potential in order to account for the van der Waals forces between the thiol chains.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)369-375
Number of pages7
JournalNuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Volume212
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003
EventAtomic Collisions in Solids - India, India
Duration: Jan 19 2003Jan 24 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
  • Instrumentation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gold-thiolate cluster emission from SAMs under keV ion bombardment: Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this