Monolayer Formation on Silicon and Mica Surfaces Rearranged from N-Hexadecanoyl-l-alanine Supramolecular Structures

The rearrangements of N-hexadecanoyl-l-alanine supramolecular structures in water to form monolayers on silicon and mica surfaces have been investigated using atomic force microscopy. It is the first time that such a monolayer with the polar groups on the solid surface and the alkyl chains up is obtained through a rational molecular design. The monolayer formation results from the strong interaction between the molecular headgroups and the surface, the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction via a six-membered ring structure in the case of silicon surfaces, and the additional attractive force in the case of mica surfaces. The anisotropic and dendritic growth structures, clearly observed for the monolayers rearranged on mica surfaces, are indicative of a homochiral effect. The differences in height and morphology of the monolayers on the two types of surfaces are considered to be relevant to the surface roughness and to the interactions between the molecules and the surface.