Dynamics in Self-assembled Organic Monolayers at the Liquid/Solid Interface Revealed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The liquid/solid interface provides an interesting medium for molecular self-assembly and scanning tunneling microscopy is the preferred technique to analyse the structural features of the surface-supported self-assembled monolayers in this medium. An interesting aspect is the phenomenon of molecular dynamics at the liquid/solid interface. In this mini-review, we report on our efforts and strategies to investigate and even induce molecular dynamics at the liquid/solid interface, bringing insight to various kinds of processes such as conformational, translational and adsorption/desorption dynamics.