Formation of a self-assembled monolayer by adsorption of thiophene on Au(111) and its photooxidation

In direct conflict with theoretical predictions, thiophene monolayers were adsorbed onto Au(111) by immersing an evaporated thin film of mica supported gold in an ethanolic solution of thiophene. The resulting self-assembled Monolayer (SAM) ws shown to be annealable and to be comprised of large domains adopting the unit cell (2 root 19x root 3)R30 degrees. The SAMs can be removed by photooxidation in air and rinsing with ethanol to afford clean reconstructed Au(111).