Dynamic variations in adhesion of self-assembled monolayers on nanoasperities probed by atomic force microscopy

Octadecyltriethoxysilane (OTE) self- assembled monolayers (SAMs) and their effects on friction and adhesion have been investigated on various combinations of functionalized and unfunctionalized silicon oxide surfaces including the oxidized surface of crystalline Si(100), silica nanoparticle films, and oxidized Si atomic force microscopy (AFM) tips. Force-distance spectroscopy was utilized to probe and compare the properties of the OTE SAMs on silica asperities with nanoscale curvature against these same monolayers on surfaces with sub-1 nm roughness (flat surfaces). It was found that adhesion between SAMs and silicon oxide surfaces can vary significantly when assembly takes place on surfaces with nanoscopic curvature as compared to flat surfaces. Observations indicate that the SAM structure present during force measurements is dynamic in nature, which yields different adhesion values when measured with variations of both tip-sample contact time and tip-approach/retract rates. These results point the need in reporting a number of measurement parameters when probing adhesion by SAM functionalized tips.