Self-assembled monolayers as selective filters for chemical sensors

The lateral electrical conductivity of gold layers with thickness in the nanometre range was found to decrease due to adsorption of mercury, water, iodine and sulphuric compounds onto the gold surface. A self-assembled monolayer of hexadecanethiol, deposited on the gold surface, blocked the effects of water and volatile sulphuric compounds on the lateral conductivity of the gold layers, but does not block the effects of iodine and mercury. The results indicate a selective permeability of hexadecanethiol monolayers for mercury vapour, thus providing a method for development of ultrathin filters for chemical sensors.