STM of mixed alkylthiol self-assembled monolayers on Au(111)

Mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) consisting of n-alkylthiol and/or 11-mercapto1-undecanol are produced and investigated by Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) in picoampere regime. Such systems allow the creation of surfaces with tuned chemical properties. We investigate both the qualities of the organic films and their electron transport properties. We evidence a contact regime and measure the decay lengths both in the film and in the tunnelling gap.