Electrochemically directed two-component monolayers on gold

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were formed on gold at anodic potentials from solutions containing two different alkyl thiosulfates, CH3(CH2)10S2O3Na and HO2C(CH2)10S2O3Na. The resultingtwo-component SAMs were analyzed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to relate their compositions to those of the solutions from which they were adsorbed. This relationship was more linear than reported for analogous SAMs adsorbed from mixed solutions of alkanethiols. The wettability of these surfaces by water and by hexadecane was also measured and compared to analogous SAMs prepared by chemisorption of thiols from solution.