Observation from scanning tunneling microscopy of a striped phase for octanethiol adsorbed on Au(111) from solution

A self-assembled monolayer of 1-octanethiol was prepared on a Au(111) surface via liquid-phase adsorption. An investigation of the surface using ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy revealed a striped phase of the octanethiol molecules under the conditions examined. This phase resembles the well-known "pinstripe" structure of alkanethiols on Au(111), with a registry that is similar to that of the previously observed p x radical3 structures. We discuss the nature of this structure with respect to those that have been observed for other n-alkanethiols.