Friction force microscopy of self-assembled monolayers: probing molecular organisation at the nanometre scale Review Article

The basic principles behind friction force microscopy are described. Applications of friction force microscopy to self-assembled monolayers are reviewed. Work in the author’s laboratory on the frictional properties of self-assembled monolayers is described, and the findings applied in the characterisation of a much more complex material, plasma-treated polyester. Friction force microscopy is found to be a powerful tool for the analysis of the chemical composition and molecular organisation of molecular materials at the nanometre scale.