Origins of displacement in 1-adamantanethiolate self-assembled monolayers

We have investigated the origins of the susceptibility of 1-adamantanethiolate self-assembled monolayers on Au{111} to displacement by other thiol molecules. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical desportion experiments to probe separated self-assembled monolayers on Au{111} created by the displacement of 1-adamantanethiolate with n-dodecanethiolate, we have shown that there is no difference between the chemical environments at the Au{111} surface for single-component or separated self-assembled monolayers of each molecule. There are, however, differences in interaction strengths between the 1-adamantanethiolate molecules and the n-dodecanethiolate molecules that contribute to 1-adamantanethiolate displacement.